J. S. Bach: Organ Fugue in G minor 'The Little' BWV 578 (Matthew Ming Li, piano)

Transcription for solo piano by the American pianist, Olga Samaroff

Pianist: Matthew Ming Li

Recorded in Vancouver, BC

[anchemusica]

The piano transcription gives a great clarity to the polyphony. Very remarkable the player. Many thanks for the unusual performance.

[jamesa]

What I love about your performance is that you do not feel the need to beat the crap out of the piano at the bass voices. It is still counterpoint, it should be subtle and distinct and sing like the voices of angels. You do a wonderful job with that. Question - why did you choose Samaroff arrangement? There are several out there and would be interested in knowing why you chose this one....?

[michaelkaplanb]

Nice performance! I played this as a student about 60 years ago, so it was wonderful hearing this.

[stuartmclaren]

Bach transcribed music of other composers so to transcribe play in a Chopin style gives a fresh outlook on this timeless piece. But I would still like to hear it played as written for the organ on a traditional pedal piano.

[alexandrodiova]

Your performance is amazing the best on YouTube so far, you can hear every voice very clear, no need to over exaggerate them. Magnificent!

[ru]

Having listened to all of Bach's organ works it's a shame keyboard versions is usually limited to the harpsichord. I enjoyed this really good performance, it's transparent, simple and convincingly in style and important there's no Never hesitate playing Bach on piano, it's all about what you do with it and Gadamer would agree

[mylittleelectron]

How did Bach, a mortal man, write this music? Im an atheist, but this fact is still the best argument for God's existence.

[oliviamarina]

I like how he spins his head and looks like he feels the music=)
I do the same when i play the piano and my sister thinks it's weird

[mrgrinch]

2:15 AHHHH THIS PHRASING IS TOO MUCH TO HANDLE MY HEART JUST LIFTED

Bach is like a wizard, he controls each voice and maintains the genius put into them while continuing adding new ones. That probably makes no sense but its my mind.

[Pulsial]

Its.... beautifull. Its the first piano transcription i have heard for this fugue is my favorite bach piece.... so thanks!

[mengkaotseng]

1:40 exquisite emergence, change of colors without soft pedal !
awesome !
mxncb

[chopindabrahms]

The entire performance is overwhelming, and the "romanticized" chords in the end is fun and I loved it!

[Sim]

One of my fav works ever . Great performance !

[ilovebach]

Thank you for sharing! I love how clear and beautiful you bring out the different voices! 🙏🏼 I want to learn this song and this will be my ultimate benchmark!

[gabircik]

So beautiful. I never thought that I’d like a piano interpretation of a Bach fugue more than the organ version. Very well played.

[craigshaw]

A very musical performance with lots of appropriate dynamics and not too fast!!! Well done.

[citri]

Absolutely amazing! Whenever I hear this song I can only think of "MAN AND MACHINE AND NOTHING THERE IN BETWEEN"

[blondellemarie-jeanne]

Pianiste extraordinaire. Un grand respect de la pensée du compositeur et une sublime interprétation.
Cette transcription doit être très difficile à jouer car l orgue comporte plusieurs claviers plus le pédalier…

[salasikas.nattaya]

I thought I need 3 hands and 15 fingers to play this.

[Guilhermedetiuki]

Awesome performance! These version reminds me a bit of Chopin. Do you like Chopin?