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07/30/2006
Mischa Maisky plays Bach
I've just spent the last little while glued to my computer screen watching videos of Mischa Maisky playing the Bach Cello suites. (I've just discovered YouTube.com, so it's all still a novelty!) These are the famous/infamous Bach Cello suites I was talking about a while ago in a post, where I related the story of me getting sick of these cello suites and telling my cello teacher I just didn't feel like learning anymore Bach (blasphemy to a cello teacher's ears!). The particular piece which caused the meltdown in the first place is the Courante of the 2nd cello suite, and you can see a video of Maisky playing it here. (Let's hope this link works!) It's actually really cool to listen to, when played right. Let's just say, when I played it for the Kiwanis Music Festival, it lacked, I don't know, a certain je-ne-sais-quoi, such as, for example, correct notes, correct intonation, correct tempo...! It wasn't a pretty sight (or sound), let's just put it that way. This piece is definitely, definitely not as easy as Maisky makes it look!!
Actually, the one that had me the most entranced so far (I haven't watched them all yet), is the Prelude to the first cello suite, available here. The cello almost looks like it's playing itself! I love it anyway. I can play this piece too, but not as elegantly so this is why I've been glued to my computer screen. ("What's he doing that I can learn from?!")
Have a listen and/or watch these videos, anyway. He's pretty good! It inspires me to actually practice (or quit in shame, depending on my mood...)! That, and make lots of money to buy a cello that sounds as nice as his. :-)
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