Demystifying Beethoven's Große Fuge (music only - commentary removed)

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For Richard Atkinson's full commentary on Beethoven’s Große Fuge (original video):

This is a fair use educational video that uses a recording/performance by the Takács Quartet. In the original video, I neglected to highlight entries of the subject in the coda section that are shared between two different instruments - I fixed that in this video (starting around 12:00).

00:00 - "Overtura" (Introduction)
00:56 - Intense fugue #1
04:30 - Meno mosso (slow section)
07:19 - March/scherzo
07:48 - Intense fugue #2
11:12 - Extended "coda"

[tombruges]

Dear god and anyone wanted to say he couldn’t do counterpoint. After this and the Hammerklavier sonata I think it’s fairly easy to say he went beyond just mastery. The one thing I love over Beethoven than any other composer is how each theme feels so ‘non-fugal’ as though he just stumbled upon a bunch of melodies which just happen to slot together perfectly.

[doricdream]

its hard to believe 9:00 wasnt something written as a result of time travel. it really sounds absolutely nothing like anything else written in the century.

[ezislbp]

I used to look for string orchestra arrangements of this but actually this recording has the cold savagery I look for

[brendanward]

I still find this a daunting piece to listen to. I can't imagine what it's like for the performers, who have not only to learn it but also to interpret it.

[OliJono]

There is something magical about this piece when you can clearly hear that it’s written by Beethoven. Some recordings seem to go with a more conservative baroque-like approach and it just doesn’t work.

This recording however, definitely has this ambitious fiery and fearless pride that Ludwig had when writing this work.

[EntelSidious_gamzeylmz]

I just love the intensity of the recording

[AlvinHDavernport]

I only recently got into classical music, with Beethoven as the catalyst. I have nowhere near the background to appreciate the craftsmanship of pieces like this, and because it’s not very tuneful, it’s certainly not the most accessible for someone who only recently learned what it even means for a piece to be in a “major” or a “‘minor” key!

But there so much to appreciate in Beethoven music beyond the technical merit (or, as he himself would say, the “syllable counting”). This piece is no exception. Every time I listen to it, there is a new layer of emotion I can peel off; there is something new about Beethoven’s state of mind I can discern, or some new way that it can alter my own; there is a new moment that makes my heart skip a beat. It may take a lifetime for me to fully comprehend it (if even), but I am so excited.

And hey, it may not be the most tuneful thing out there, but I’ve caught myself whistling to bits and pieces off it! Unlike you, though, I haven’t caught any weird looks as a result :)

[TGMGame]

I used to listen to this. And, 2 pages in, I already want to listen to it all again. It feels great to experience this again.

[accipiterignitus]

I still remember the whole commentary! It was one of the greatest times I've spent on YouTube

[wehaveasituation]

Wonderful performance of a marvelous composition...and he was deaf as a brick at this point?

[johnchessant]

My new go-to video for listening to Grosse Fuge! I can hear all the voices so much better with the highlighted score, and this is a great recording as well

[orb]

7:48 time stamping the second intense fugue for myself

[leonhardeuler]

12:09 I see you annotated the shared entries of the subject, you sounded very annoyed in an interveiw that you missed it.

[MaxwellZaneSchultz]

thanks richard, this is very epic of you 😘

[badmusicanalysischannel]

You could do commentary removed videos for some of your older analysis ; Eroica finale, Bruckner 5, Mozart 41, etc. It would look very nice.

[sandrobirnbaumer]

A great video idea, watching it like this after rewatching the video with commentary is very educational and useful, thank you

[romulo-mello]

Imagine being a violinist in 1820 and having to play this

[adrianoseresi]

What a coincidence. I was just thinking the other day, as I rewatched your EPIC Bruckner 5th symphony finale video, that an analysis video without commentary might be a great idea... and it is! It works great.

[ilusionpiano]

Beethoven es un súper humano y unos de mis compositores favoritos, sin embargo creo que esta obra aún no logró comprenderla! Tal vez algún día la entenderé pero ahora no!

[tamed]

You should make more of these for some of your most popular videos