Bach Double Play-Along Video with Laurie
Here's a video for all the students who are studying the Bach Double but can't currently practice with a duet partner! I also invite you to join me if you just feel like playing the piece - I've recorded it at what I hope is a user-friendly tempo of quarter=84.
If you want to follow the second violin part, watch Laurie in yellow; first violin is Laurie in blue, and "orchestra" is Laurie in red. The "orchestra" part is a wonderful arrangement by Martha Yasuda, who has made duet parts for all the music in the Suzuki books and more. (Find her website here!)
During these pandemic days I've made a number of recordings on Zoom of the first movement of the Bach Double for my Suzuki Book 4 and 5 students, since we cannot play it together live in the lesson. When I discovered the Acapella app last month, I thought, why not just do one recording that will work for everyone? So this is my first Acapella attempt!
I've actually wanted to make such a recording since I was learning the piece as a child of about 11. My first attempt involved ancient technology: a cassette recorder! I simply recorded the second violin part, then tried to play along live with the first part. Of course, with the many measures of rests in both parts, I enjoyed limited success!
A few years later here, I still never tire of playing the Bach Double. I love to play it with anyone who will play it with me, and I love all three movements! I hope this will help at least a few people get used to playing it along with the "other" part.
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And for your listening: Here are some great recordings of this piece that illustrate just some of the many ways people can interpret it!
Yehudi Menuhin and David Oistrakh in 1958. Close to the tempo I recorded - so on the slow side, and rather Romantic.
Netherlands Bach Society: using Baroque bows and set-up, as well as the 415 A, this one is nice and brisk.
"2 Cellos" - big stadium show, with Bach Double played by cellists Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser in 2015.
Time for Three - a live performance from 2012 of a fast and jazzed-up Bach double, with violinists Nick Kendall and Zachary DePue and bassist Ranaan Meyer.
I have had so much fun playing this piece with my students over the years -- shout out to all of them! And Maya, I'll never forget the time at a late-afternoon lesson when we were playing it all by memory and switched parts in the middle, only to discover it at the very end - how did we do that?!
You might also like:
- Teaching with Duets: Martha Yasuda's Duet Arrangements of Suzuki Books 1-8 and More
- Review: Hilary Hahn Plays Bach Double and more with LA Chamber Orchestra
- Gil Shaham and Adele Anthony play the Bach Double at Aspen
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Thank you for doing this...I'll check it out.
I never get tired of watching this version of the Allegro part, with Hilary Hahn, Chris Thile and Paul Kowert.
If the link doesn't work, just search for Hahn Thile Allegro...should come up.
Thanks, Laurie. What a great idea and I second the “love” of Martha Yasuda’s arrangements for so many violin solos-not all of them are from the Suzuki pieces. She wrote duet parts that have been to helpful in my studio.
Thanks so much for doing this, Laurie. I'll be sending the link to my students so they can play along with you this summer!
This is so incredibly well done, Laurie! I am honored that you chose to use my arrangement! Here is a link for a PDF download of Concerto Melodies II (contains the Bach Double):
I loved that Laurie! Thank you for finding all of those. Bach's double is very special to me as we played it in the orchestra in high school and I will never forget how wonderful that experience was!
Good Morning Laurie!
Thank you too much for this post. Bach double is for me one of the "Must" of violin sharing between musicians in love...
What about this interpretation (unfortunately, only the largo...)?
And this one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSIV75WG7kA
Have a nice time,
Bernard (from Reunion Island - Indian Ocean...)
Wonderful! I enjoyed it immensely ! Thanks for doing this
Thank you so much. I have several students working on this piece at the moment. This will be very useful. (Not to mention making my life easier.)
Thank you so much. I have several students working on this piece at the moment. This will be very useful. (Not to mention making my life easier.)
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June 10, 2020 at 10:28 PM · Brava, red, yellow, and blue Lauries! I'll be joining you for a performance as soon as I am done fixing supper.