I just got back from a superbe concert. The cellist Sung-Won Yang played the 6 suites of Johann Sebastien Bach, in a lovely hall in Toulouse, France called St Pierre les Cuisines. Absolutely brillant.

Lately, for the last several years, I have listened very little to recorded music. Somehow, listening to and seeing this magnificent artist, hearing his breathing, hearing the sound and the volume of the instrument that would be perfected on a recording, the thought came to me that I am happy to have silence at home when I or my family are not making music.

Also, I admired the aplomb of the artist. I found myself wondering how is it possible to play so intensely, to give so of one's self, and then to be able to speak about the next piece. I myself felt so strongly moved, I was happy that I went alone to the concert and that no one was going to chat with me.

Yes, a wonderful artist. I hope that he brings the cello suites program to the states.

Silence is something so valuable yet something that seems rarer these days, with a steady stream of video, radio, earbuds, all manner of electronic devices.

Is there any place that will put a phone call on hold without some cheesy canned music?

I try to make time in everyday for silence.. inside and outside.

Forrest

Were there several long intermissions?

One of my favorite Bach transcriptions is this one of the Sarabande from the 6th cello suite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITbcJMKVmts

Good evening. Just one intermission, but it appeared to me that the musician was suffering after the middle of the second part of the concert. He played 1, 3 and 5, then 2, 4 and 6.

About transcriptions. I have played some, and I have written several myself as a way to examine more closely the music that bach wrote for the cello. But this is really string music, listening to piano transcriptions just doesn't do the trick.

By the way, Mr Yang made the interesting point that the cello was a minor instrument at the time, that served only in the context of orchestras. That Bach took the pains to write these suites specifically for the violoncello show that he saw a dimension for the instrument that was far in advance of the times.



I hope so too. Myself, I didn't know of him, I was quite astounded.