Someone writing a review for an album on Amazon wrote:
The Bach solo string music is, of course, one of the landmarks of classical music. These are some of the greatest pieces of music ever written. They are the musical equivalent of the plays of Shakespeare.
Well … personally I’d have to say I’m not crazy about it (solo violin). I Much prefer the addition of piano which I feel softens what can sometimes be a grating intensity.
These few selections would have to be up there with the best of the best because afterall it is Bach, and its Hillary Hahn playing; whom “they” rave about!
From Bach’s violin partitas #2 and #3
08 Partita No. 2 in d, BWV 1004 – I. Allemande
09 II. Courante
Partita #3
06 VI. Bourree
15 III. Largo
Ben Leet
January 31, 2010 at 6:34 pmYesterday I went to San Francisco on BART, got off at Montgomery Street, and there was a young man playing his violin in the most acoustically appropriate place. The clarity, closeness, volume of his tone was a real surprise. He was playing a great violin, playing some slow romantic classical thing, a Saint Saens piece maybe. I threw in a dollar and listened for about five minutes. Very few people in the station. Went off to my appointment. Listening to Hillary Hahn play the slow Allemande is an exercise in listening. Ghazal sixty-five from Meher Sarod,
Oh Meher, why have You turned Your face away? How can my tears voice their bitter complaint?
It is Your privilege, as the Truth, to kill me. I cannot stop Your hand — only make it bearable.
After years I see the blessing in Your behavior. I have learned to derive pleasure from Your teasing and abuse.
All sit entranced as You play Your sarod, But not one knows the pain of Your finger and the string.
My heart fled when my life became fire. After searching everywhere I found it in Your hand.
Oh Bhau, why shed tears when your fortune is this very pain of longing? Don’t you realize you have received the Beloved’s priceless gift?
Bhau Kalchuri.