TwoSet Violin: 'I'm Bach'?

December 6, 2024, 2:44 PM · Reports conflict, as to whether a new TwoSet video released this week signifies that the pair is returning under a new name, or if they are simply creating a set of departing videos.

On Thursday TwoSet Violin released a high-production video on its Youtube Channel, enticingly titled "I'm Bach" (like..."I'm Back"?). It was their first public communication since October, when the wildly popular Singapore-based comedy team - Brett Yang and Eddy Chen - made the surprise announcement that they had posted what they called their "last piece of content as TwoSet Violin." At that time, they also took down nearly all of their 1,500 + videos from YouTube, leaving just 29 videos. The two been creating humorous violin videos and more since 2013.

This week's new video features Eddy Chen in the role of a time-traveling J.S. Bach, who begins the video playing the Chaconne in a candlelit church, then travels to 2024, where many musical genres and cultural references collide into a rap song.

Also on Thursday, the New York Times published a long and detailed article about TwoSet Violin, in which Chen and Yang appear to give their first public interviews since their shocking announcement in October.

The article said that "in an interview, Chen and Yang confirmed they were finished with TwoSet Violin, though they said they would likely continue to work together. They said they were increasingly worn out by the demands of creating more than 100 videos each year. And, with 4.3 million subscribers on YouTube, they said, they were growing tired of the scrutiny."

Chen and Yang also told the NYT that the new video, "I'm Bach" is part of a six-video "farewell" series, in which they play members of a band of composers called "B²TSM," a K-pop-inspired named which stands for "Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and Mozart." The article shows photos of Chen and Yang shooting the B²TSM videos in Hong Kong, Thailand and Austria: Chen dressed as Bach, Yang dressed as Shostakovich.

Eddy Chen as Bach.

The project has its own website: b2tsmofficial.com, on which is posted gilt-framed pictures of Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and Mozart. Click on the Bach picture, and it takes you to the new "I'm Bach" video. The other pictures say "Coming Soon."

What is "coming soon"? The New York times said that Chen and Yang "worked with Hong Kong Ballet to record a video about Tchaikovsky. In Austria, they produced 'Papa Wolfgang Style,' a Mozart-themed video, at the Eckartsau palace. They also filmed at Vienna’s storied Musikverein concert hall."

Chen and Yang described the videos as a final gift to their fans. Their "art" is what they create through video, and so it is meaningful to them to create something in this genre, as an authentic good-bye message.

That also told the NYT that "they did not know what would come next, though they said it was possible they would perform again as B²TSM, which they introduced in 2022."

A few of their words from the end of "I'm Bach:"

"I need music that comes from the heart
that's how you know you made art
the reason that sets you apart
the joy you can impart
I give thanks to my god of creation
spread Joy is my motivation
advice for this generation:
go back to your foundation."

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Replies

Ron Black

December 6, 2024 at 08:04 PM · They are great violinists, they should stick to that.

Christian Lesniak

December 6, 2024 at 08:22 PM · Seems like a goofy send-off to their fans. I wouldn't want to be under the pressure that a Youtuber is under to keep having to pump out content and be under such scrutiny. I wish them success, however they define that!

Eloise Hellyer

December 7, 2024 at 12:11 PM · I wonder why they took down all their videos on YouTube. Many of them were very, very good.

Paul Deck

December 8, 2024 at 02:57 AM · There might be any number of reasons why they took down their content. I'm sure they're proud of what they accomplished, and I'll bet it shows in their bank accounts, but maybe they just want "TwoSet Violin" to fade away as they begin the next chapters of their personal and professional lives.

Elisabeth Matesky

December 8, 2024 at 09:08 PM · As from ~ Elisabeth Matesky, "Apostle" of Jascha Heifetz & Nathan Milstein, Carrier of the Heifetz-Milstein Legacy of Violin Art and Bowing Mentoring {#5}

I've no familiarity with Two Set and just hearing one of the Team, I am not impressed with the first broken 3 stringed chord of the Chaconne by Johann

Sebastian Bach Opening and Most pay Not attention to the Fact of the opening of Bach's Chaconne 1st beginning on the Second Beat!!! I know this myself and it was duly confirmed when studying All of the Violin Sonatas/Partitas of Johann Sebastian Bach with Master of All J. S. Bach's Unaccompanied Sonatas & Partitas, Nathan Milstein, and intensely not in a Master Class, but as his NM Invited '1st Heifetz Guinea Pig Pupil' and spent over 3.5 years in In-Depth re-reviewing of all bowing's and in Mr. Milstein's Godly hands, every possible bowing possibility yet following the outline of Master of Composition and Spirituality inherent of A Master, Johann Sebastian Bach ... I admit being a bit shy yet upset rarely seeing any or very little Violin discussion about the Spiritual Aspects of Bach's Music whether it be for the Unaccompanied Violin or Viola or Violoncello or in a Bach Duet for Two Violins in d min, or Bach's Oboe & Violin Duo Concerto w/Orchestra or in The Brandenburg's All Five of Bach??

My Question has true merit in this time of change from serious study to P.R. Promo's to obtain very large followings on YouTube which IMO started out in a serious vein, yet more recently is allowing "Anything Goes" on its website including political commentary which at first glance in earlier teens of the Twenty First Century would never have been considered 'appropriate.'! Not trying to run YT but RX do not destroy or rearrange a debut of a sincere classical plus other valid music genre's music to obtain more Views! This Is Nuts! And with the coming Advent of A.I., I am worrying and with reasonableness, What these non 'Genuises' will try next?? A Heifetz supposed recording but NOT Jascha Heifetz, which I fear may be the case ... It's a bit of British Rubbish!!

Not here to create division, I do think the 'Two Set' "Thing" is a final good decision for the two violinists seem not to have a clue about Bach's Music in the Spiritual Realm & seem not to or at this point nor the least interested ...

Returning to my sincere concern about these non informed experimenting 'geniuses', it will take a very discerning Violinist to Quell Promo's of a newly discovered Jascha Heifetz never known of recording via A.I. and will become a heightened ugly situation for Congress to deal with, sadly & sorrowfully unknowing about Jascha Heifetz's Sound but also aspects of his Artistry which are known only to few and to those of us privileged to Study with Mr. Heifetz. Sorry to spoil the Party here, but Reality is upon all of us so best to stick with the 'Tried and True' until things get wacky and one is told Whom is playing rather than those In The Valid Know, Who Do Know if Not So.

Sorry for the Divorce of Two Set but they'll Final Settle and find yet another intriguing musical Act to form and present when rested up!!

Warm Holiday Greetings to All on Violinist.com and to tireless fine Editor, Laurie Niles and whomever runs this website which is usually in my computer experience, Brilliant! I see the type now not the same & now ask Why?? Keep your previous very fine & beautifully designed Reply Section As Was which beckoned many String Players to share Comments on here!!!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Elisabeth Matesky ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Apostle"of both Jascha Heifetz & later privately, with Nathan Milstein ...

Fwd ~ dmg {#5}

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