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Michael Hedges — Prelude to Cello Suite #1 (JS Bach)
Album: A Winter's Solstice II
Avg rating:
8.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2671









Released: 1990
Length: 2:22
Plays (last 30 days): 1
(Instrumental)
Comments (200)add comment
Beautiful rendition of a classic done by a guy who tragically died too young.
 mread wrote:

Um, this *is* JS Bach.
Or do you have some 300-year-old recordings to share?



 bobcat1963 wrote:

this version is a lot more boring than played bij Andres Segovia or John Williams.
did Hedges never hear about metrum, rhythm, feel, etc. etc.
it sounds like the sewing machine of my grandma 



Hey, Bob. I think I understand why William G. chooses to play Hedges and not Segovia. That's because the only recording that I know of lacks dynamic range. Segovia is the greatest of all time but the recording (again, that I know of) is flat, flat, flat. 
It seems that he left way to early.  But is that perhaps the way he wanted it?  It goes along with the  theory that so many successful artist after accomplishing their dream decide on some level to move on.
 

Tomasni wrote:
Nice BUT play JS Bach instead

mread wrote:

Um, this *is* JS Bach.
Or do you have some 300-year-old recordings to share?

"I don't care who you are that's funny right there, I tell you whut ..."

- Larry The Cable Guy
Lovely.  Always a treat when this makes the list.
 Albert1967 wrote:

:cough:

But this one on cello please. Preferably Anner Bijlsma or Pieter Wispelweij. Yo Yo Ma. 


Why not both?  Cello and guitar renditions are BOTH great.
Lovely segue from the Kruger Brothers to Michael Hedges!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Sting with Alessandra Ferri ...
 TerryS wrote:

Having heard Segovia play this piece in person and John Williams on the first LP I ever bought, I reluctantly have to agree with your first sentence.
Edit......I just realized I still have this cd.   Damn, it is getting old to be old.



I was brought up listening to John Williams (my mum's a fan), and am biased when it comes to classical guitarists.  That said, it's still a bloody awesome performance, in the truest sense of the word.
Bach goes New Age. No Thanks. Wyndham Hell.
Give us Starker, Fournier or Casals
Bach is incredibly adaptable to different instrumentation. I've played this on both viola and in an arrangement for lute and it worked perfectly on both. 
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
whenever I hear Bach I can't help think but how incredibly lucky we were that Mendelssohn rescued him from obscurity. 

just one of those little historical accidents.. makes you wonder how many cultural riches we have lost from historical accidents that went the other way..


Like Nikola Tesla? 
 bruceandjenna wrote:

Must have been a hell of a machine.  Did you keep it?




whenever I hear Bach I can't help think but how incredibly lucky we were that Mendelssohn rescued him from obscurity. 

just one of those little historical accidents.. makes you wonder how many cultural riches we have lost from historical accidents that went the other way..
 campagnes717 wrote:


Bach or Hedges? ;) 



Bach. He was sitting with Elvis.
 PinkSo wrote:
Genesis "Horizons" may have been inspired by this...
 

Indeed so. Steve Hackett went on to have a "classical phase" and released quite a lot of Bach inspired work on his 2008 Tribute album.
Genesis "Horizons" may have been inspired by this...
 bobcat1963 wrote:
this version is a lot more boring than played bij Andres Segovia or John Williams.
did Hedges never hear about metrum, rhythm, feel, etc. etc.
it sounds like the sewing machine of my grandma 
 
Having heard Segovia play this piece in person and John Williams on the first LP I ever bought, I reluctantly have to agree with your first sentence.
Edit......I just realized I still have this cd.   Damn, it is getting old to be old.
This is J S Bach right?
I can play this on piano but it will take longer :)
great track 
 Grammarcop wrote:
The Shaggs could have played the Prelude and it would have still sounded magnificent. 
 
Except that they couldn't. Maybe "Foot Foot's Prelude"...
 Tomasni wrote:
Nice   BUT play    JS Bach   instead
 
Um, this *is* JS Bach.
Or do you have some 300-year-old recordings to share?
 secretsauce wrote:
I feel really lucky to have seen him live in the patio of a coffee shop in Santa Cruz.
 
Lucky, indeed!
Nice   BUT play    JS Bach   instead
 bruceandjenna wrote:

What?  Why do you ask?
 

This is sometimes referred to as "a joke".
The one tune for the deserted island.
 bobcat1963 wrote:
this version is a lot more boring than played bij Andres Segovia or John Williams.
did Hedges never hear about metrum, rhythm, feel, etc. etc.
it sounds like the sewing machine of my grandma 
 
Must have been a hell of a machine.  Did you keep it?
 campagnes717 wrote:


Bach or Hedges? ;) 
 
What?  Why do you ask?
Sublime.

And a nice segway into Uncle John Band.. It's an art.
 secretsauce wrote:
I feel really lucky to have seen him live in the patio of a coffee shop in Santa Cruz.
 

Bach or Hedges? ;) 
 bluematrix wrote:

Yes! I heard that too. Guess we know where Hackett got the inspiration from now.

  
I will third the motion.  

I've heard so many versions of this composition that were a pure massacre... this one is really divine.
 Bert7 wrote:
Thought i was listening to Genesis Horizons at the start...

 
Yes! I heard that too. Guess we know where Hackett got the inspiration from now.
The Shaggs could have played the Prelude and it would have still sounded magnificent. 
Heard this in my car from a cache file I had downloaded.  
Now I can rate it, again.
Mr. Hedges was one of the best. 
One of my favorite instrumental albums - excellent from first piece to last.
Man, sure do miss Michael Hedges' music and presence in this world!
 mread wrote:

Fabulous indeed.  BTW, it's a "harp guitar."  To wit:
Michael Hedges holding a harp guitar
(Not sure when this was taken, but look how young he was.)

 
I knew something was up when I heard this but that was completely unexpected 
 Kaw wrote:

spotify:track:3Z2fD6tYNgnPoVVhUxunZF
There is... It is an album my wife and I listen a lot during winter time on the quiet evenings. It's Segovia by the way. Andrés Segovia.

 
 and got the spelling error too.. funny how you just don't see some things for years till someone points it out.
I'm sure Mr. Bach would appreciate this.  {#Cheesygrin}
Bach SUCKS! Play more friggin FLOYD man (coughs, spits, scratches self, rates a 3)
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:

I'll follow suit on that.  I'm pretty sure there is a Sergovia recording of this out there that is absolutely stellar.
 
spotify:track:3Z2fD6tYNgnPoVVhUxunZF
There is... It is an album my wife and I listen a lot during winter time on the quiet evenings. It's Segovia by the way. Andrés Segovia.
There are probably technical quibbles with his execution, but the placement is SO refreshing…
Love, love, love this!
Air for strings {#Sunny}
 TerryS wrote:

50 years ago (OK it was really only 48 or so) I saw actually Andres Segovia perform this piece, unamplified, alone on stage, at Massey Hall.
Y'know what? This is a creditable effort indeed. 

 
wow, awesome! Back in my vinyl days I had an album of his that I practically wore out.
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:

I'll follow suit on that.  I'm pretty sure there is a Sergovia recording of this out there that is absolutely stellar.
 
50 years ago (OK it was really only 48 or so) I saw actually Andres Segovia perform this piece, unamplified, alone on stage, at Massey Hall.
Y'know what? This is a creditable effort indeed. 
Beautiful!
Thought i was listening to Genesis Horizons at the start...
JSB would be proud!
Something's missing here. Can't quite put my finger on it...
10 - for JSB.
 Dave_Mack wrote:
. . .  Of course it could be one of his extra funky guitars with untold numbers of strings.  Though it sounds pretty normal apart from the extreme lowness.  He's fabulous.
 
Fabulous indeed.  BTW, it's a "harp guitar."  To wit:
[Michael Hedges holding a harp guitar]
(Not sure when this was taken, but look how young he was.)

Even the frozen Oregon sidewalks love this today.


ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh   {#Sunny}
I concur!   pcicatar wrote:
Yes!  {#Meditate}
a_genuine_find wrote:
eleven

 

 


ahhhhhh
Yes!  {#Meditate}
a_genuine_find wrote:
eleven

 


Such a beautiful, tranquil picture, and such magical music... I must put this on my new list of CDs to buy when I have money...


Ahhhh  . . . so nice to hear someone who can make Bach come alive. Bach is wasted on beginning music students. :)
eleven

This is exquisite - exactly perfect for my mood today... {#Meditate}
Interesting. Michael Hedges,Nick Drake,Joe Strummer,Morphine. You ok there Bill?  Then Kasabian? (that's Linda for you toddlers) quick someone call 911.

 Elliot wrote:
Well that was lovely, but I'd still vote for the cello.

This entire suite is, for me, the best piece of music I've yet heard.

 
couldn't agree more with you!... the version by Carlos Prieto is just full of feeling and sentiment!

 bobcat1963 wrote:
this version is a lot more boring than played bij Andres Segovia or John Williams.
did Hedges never hear about metrum, rhythm, feel, etc. etc.
it sounds like the sewing machine of my grandma 
 
I disagree.
this version is a lot more boring than played bij Andres Segovia or John Williams.
did Hedges never hear about metrum, rhythm, feel, etc. etc.
it sounds like the sewing machine of my grandma 
Does anyone know where I can purchase this mp3? The key word here being purchase... ; )

BB
Didn't Genesis pinch this tune for one of their songs? (Or vice versa?)  "Horizons", from Foxtrot, if you ask me... 

I think I prefer this version.

——
Edit - OK, this was spotted in 2007...

Well that was lovely, but I'd still vote for the cello.

This entire suite is, for me, the best piece of music I've yet heard.

Michael Hedges was an original....too soon gone.
 twitterpated wrote:
Bach on the guitar is always so good.
 
:cough:

But this one on cello please. Preferably Anner Bijlsma or Pieter Wispelweij. Yo Yo Ma. 
Bach on the guitar is always so good.
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
Love it when those bass notes come in.
 
Me too.  He's got some wild tuning on that guitar.  Of course it could be one of his extra funky guitars with untold numbers of strings.  Though it sounds pretty normal apart from the extreme lowness.  He's fabulous.

Great...just don't want to go to sleep on a Friday afternoon....
Genius.  R.I.P.
Love it when those bass notes come in.
 iTuner wrote:
We've been Flecked to death. This is a good change.
 

{#Roflol}

I miss his work.....


Good stuff.....
This is one of those songs that rolls around on RP every so often that just gives me chills it's so good. Made my morning.
 nate917 wrote:
9 for the performance; 10 for the music.  9.5 isn't available, so I'm rounding up.
 
I'll follow suit on that.  I'm pretty sure there is a Sergovia recording of this out there that is absolutely stellar.

9 for the performance; 10 for the music.  9.5 isn't available, so I'm rounding up.
Oh my gawsh, that's nearly as beautiful as when played on a cello! Great one, thanks for playing it. Goes on my wish list right now.
I saw him live in Toronto, wow, it made me want to either give up the guitar or try a LOT harder, he was awesome.
I feel really lucky to have seen him live in the patio of a coffee shop in Santa Cruz.
miss the words for describing this sound. great. really.
 davyjrshort wrote:
I second that, although I -really- love YoYoMa's interpretation of it, this is great too!


 
I also agree.  I saw YoYo Ma play this live, just he and his cello.  It was stunning.

The time stops for a while, when listening to this.
SoundChaser wrote:
Oh man, yet another artist that was stolen from us waaay too soon. I still grieve every time I hear something by Michael.
...not to forget Bach, who died 1750.
Oh man, yet another artist that was stolen from us waaay too soon. I still grieve every time I hear something by Michael.
I've got about 5 versions of this on my MP3 player for walks in the woods.
Nice!! Very very nice!
Nice! Thanks.
Man alive, Bill. I don't know how you do it...
sfListener wrote:
thank god it's not a banjo.
Well, God may grant us what we need, rather than what we want......... 10! Magnificence!
I wonder what instrument Bill plays. Most people don't like Bach unless they have had music lessons at some point. . .
sfListener wrote:
thank god it's not a banjo.
We've been Flecked to death. This is a good change. While this isn't my type of music, it is very nice and pleasant to listen to. Well played too.
Nice
Loved hearing this today!
thank god it's not a banjo.
ploafmaster wrote:
Sweet - now we just need to hear Horizons by Genesis...
Horizons is not by Genesis, It's Steve Hackett !!
Bill, thanks for playing this and other classical music from time to time... it reminds us of our heritage and the brilliance of these artists.
thank you .
Merci.
Beautiful follow up to Nick Drake
BRAVO!!!
I second that, although I -really- love YoYoMa's interpretation of it, this is great too!
meadowwoods wrote:
Interesting....not quite as beautiful as a cello, but it's nice.
I agree, which is why I gave it a 9. The performance might deserve less, but it's Bach... a cello (played by those mentioned below) would have earned it a 10)
Michael was the coolest! I miss him.
I love this piece, but I don't feel this recording has much emotion behind it. Much prefer Janos Starker or Yo Yo Ma on cello.
Was wondering why this reminded me so of Christmas, then I realized I have this on a Christmas CD. Whew! 9.
Interesting....not quite as beautiful as a cello, but it's nice.
Art at it's highest.
How did you know that I deeply needed precisely this? Thank you RP.
stok wrote:
Ehm, sorry to nitpick, slartibart_O, I think you might mean Rostropovich (Mstislav Rostropovich, 1926-, cellist) instead of Shostakovich (Dmitri Shostakovich, 1906-1975, composer) Or am I missing an interesting Bach recording? In any case, I can also recommend Rostropovich's Cello Suites next to Yo-Yo Ma and Casals
You are correct of course, sorry. At any rate, I enjoyed Hedges today better than the last time I heard it.
ploafmaster wrote:
Sweet - now we just need to hear Horizons by Genesis...
That's what I thought it was when it first came on - never realized they had ripped off that riff until now!
slartibart_O wrote:
Listen to Shostakovitch or YoYo Ma playing this solo on cello as Bach intended
Ehm, sorry to nitpick, slartibart_O, I think you might mean Rostropovich (Mstislav Rostropovich, 1926-, cellist) instead of Shostakovich (Dmitri Shostakovich, 1906-1975, composer) Or am I missing an interesting Bach recording? In any case, I can also recommend Rostropovich's Cello Suites next to Yo-Yo Ma and Casals
Greetings, physicsgenius wrote:
How about a whole day of this?
I agree. Now, you can knock me over with a feather -- physicsgenius said something positive about music -- and I agree with him! There are several/many excellent recordings of this on cello: Pablo Casals, Janos Starker (on a stunningly good Mercury Living Presence recording), and I think Yo-Yo Ma has two recordings -- all are good, and all are different, too. Neil
slartibart_O wrote:
"Warmer?" And eggrolls are so much better than "real" chinese food. Listen to Shostakovitch or YoYo Ma playing this solo on cello as Bach intended it to be played and say that.
What he said! Come to think of it, maybe I should upload a few Yo-Yo Ma tracks, the man is a straight 10 with the cello... Any suggestions?