Bach/Busoni: Chaconne in D minor (Gillham)

This mighty transcription is, in its core, in variation form: the opening chorale (which itself is divided in two groups of four bars) serves as the foundation upon which 39 individual variations are built. The variations techniques deployed by Bach make for a very rich melodic development, which can often be perceived as new melodies altogether. Busoni adds another layer by incorporating variations of timbre and genre (as varied as hymns and chorales, recitativos, toccatas, and full-fledged cadenzas).
Busoni's craft also gives rise to a reading of the Chaconne on a macroscopic level. Three main sections naturally emerge: the two outer sections in D minor, and the inner section in D major. Each one of them also features its own sub-structure: the first section is in quasi-sonata form, while the two other sections follow a symmetrical binary form (à la Scarlatti).
To quote Marina Fabrikant (who proposed this particular analysis), this piece is essentially "a tripartite form in a variation setting".

Gillham's performance achieves a perfect balance between the different levels of structural organization, underlining the variation form throughout the piece thanks to a keen sense of pulse, without sacrificing the great scale narrative. This ebb and flow allows the energy to build up and disperse naturally.
Another feat of this recording is Gillham's ability to reach impossibly large chords (see 12:55).

00:00 Intro

PART 1: quasi-sonata (D minor)
"Exposition"
00:13 Theme
00:41 Var.1
01:08 Var.2
01:37 Var.3
02:04 Var.4
"Development"
02:29 Var.5
02:46 Var.6
03:03 Var.7
03:20 Var.8
03:41 Var.9
04:00 Var.10
04:14 Var.11
04:44 Var.12
04:54 Var.13
"Recapitulation"
05:03 Var.14
05:13 Var.15
05:23 Var.16
05:33 Var.17
05:52 Var.18
06:15 Var.19
06:26 Var.20

PART 2: symmetrical binary (D major)
Section A
06:56 Var.21
07:29 Var.22
07:59 Var.23
08:08 Var.24
08:28 Var.25
08:46 Var.26
Section B
09:05 Var.27
09:24 Var.28
09:45 Var.29
10:10 Var.30

PART 3: symmetrical binary (D minor)
Section A
10:35 Var.31
11:09 Var.32
11:36 Var.33
11:51 Var.34
Section B
12:07 Var.35
12:21 Var.36
12:35 Var.37
12:44 Var.38
12:55 Var.39

[yeetthebeet]

wow its been 3 years now since ive first encountered this performance! time flies

with passing time this recording has grown on me and with the added musical maturity ive gained im starting to recognize more and more how interesting Gillham's dynamic choices are very individual and rather idiosyncratic at times

it often has the clarity typical of modern piano performance and while my usual problem with hyper-concise playing stems from a lack of individual voice and adventurousness Gillham certain dosent succumb to those issues
and god the pedaling throughout is just so distinct !

outside of the technique and rational the emotional presentation of a work as significant as the chaconne is a grand task to take on
and it never feels like he is being over sentimental and simply presents it as it is (which funnily makes the emotional impact more authentic for me)

[konstantin]

One of the greatest masterpieces on Earth

[DemirSezer]

it's great that you also included timestamps for each variation

honestly this is just beautiful

[CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

13:09 based beat drops, that's why I love the chaconne transcription

[KaikhosruShapurjiMedtner]

12:59 Bachmaninov (referring to the 13th).

[yeetthebeet]

Noice imo one of bach finest work and i have not heard this particular rendition yet it is quite refreshing to listen to a different interpretation

[maat]

I can't seem to believe that this left hand chord at 12:59 is not arpeggiated, he's got some Rach's hands.

[blacksky]

So to have not seen you were back. Love you eppur

[simonthompson]

You've been so active lately, I love it! Keep up the good work Eppur!!!

[per_rdu_ad_astra]

hOLUP- Eppur, I didn't know you were back! I guess I'm pretty late into it too since this channel was here months ago haha. I have always been a fan of your synthesia scores for the visuals and the clear piano audio. I was worried what happened to your old channel since there were a lot of good ones there. Great to see you uploading more. : )

[cristianadesanctis]

Wonderful transcription…maybe even better that the original version for violin…I wonder what Bach himself would have thought of this…

[karate.estefanodelpino]

Excelent! Can you re-upload the Ballade No.1 and the Piano Sonata No.2 by Chopin? You're the best!

[AzzyKujo]

NO WAY HES PLAYIMG THOSE LAST CHORDS he using his feet fr

[bloba]

On a scale from 1 to 10 what's the difficulty ?

[alixx_legenddark_xx]

I do like this version, however, i would like it more if you could arpeggiate the chords in the opening, like the violin. It just sounds better.