I see your Button Accordian and Raise you a Banjo

Posted over 4 years ago

Artist:
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Béla Fleck
Album:
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- QUEUE
Perpetual Motion

Here it is Under the Covers Sunday and I have just finished an "enlightening post":http://mog.com/Carolyn_O%27Brien/blog_post/125198 on Counterpoint with a really fun example of a Bach Fugue done on a button accordian. Well I just couldn't resist this. Bela Fleck is certainly a master of his instrument, and what really gets me is that he does not read music well, only tablature. There's hope for me after all.....I like this little part from the liner notes...."This recording has been a long time coming. I guess it starts with being named Bela Anton Leos Fleck, after composers Bartok, Dvorak, and Janacek."He goes on to explain how difficult it was to get the pieces into tablature and then transcribe them for the banjo.And when he was gearing up for recording them.... "As some of the pieces were physically very taxing, there were times when I had to back off to keep from hurting myself permanently!"

Comments (10)

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Bartleby says My goodness, Bach and Paganini!!! We're not talking about virtuosity any more, we are talking about physical limits of musicianship. I've always believed that if you love music, you love Bach. And if you're a musician, you're bound to want to tackle his compositions one way or another. Some transcription of his works are so perfect that it's hard to believe it wasn't written for a particular instrument. (It's hard to convince oneself the Goldberg Variations were originally meant for the harpsichord after hearing Glenn Gould's performance.) But isn't it a sign of great music that it can be transcribed into other media and instruments and still sound so incredibly inspiring? Thanks for this, Dzen.

Permalink posted 11/18/2007
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scotfree says beauiful. I love Bach. The soothing aural simplicity is pinned up by a technical mastery of which Mr. Fleck is quite capable. The Paganini, piece - while perhaps even more demanding technically - does not create the same emotional involvement for me. Very nice way to start Sunday morning...thanks!

Permalink posted 11/18/2007
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walkingthecow says I agree with scotfree that the Paganini piece may be more technically demanding, but I feel Bela really exudes more dynamics during the Bach piece. It could just be the structure of the songs.

Permalink posted 11/18/2007
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ivylander says The Paganini is impressive, but the Bach is really resonant and filled with...stuff. He really gets it. This amazes me.

Permalink posted 11/18/2007
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soulrocket says truly impressive. both versions are great and comparisions will prove to be futile, after all they come from opposite schools. if i had to choose one, i would go for the bach composition. great post, nick.

Permalink posted 11/18/2007
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Dzendvokh says I agree Danny, I mean, Bach is Bach, and well I'm not even that familiar with Paganini, I put it in to show how badass Fleck is on the Banjo. Ivy, Bart, WTC, Scot, you are all expressing the same sentiment.... I think Fleck is one of those gifted performers who can make that translation.

Permalink posted 11/18/2007
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Carolyn O'Brien says HAHAHA!!! Ooooooh, wonderful. I love a good challenge and putting accordion against banjo is great stuff. Thanks! As for comparing Bach against Paganini, well their ain't no comparison. Perpetual motion is only impressive for a tiny moment, but you can't beat the structure and harmonic beauty of Bach, you simply just can't. His music is so perfect you don't even need to write in dynamics because the climaxes are implied with the perfect harmony. And as for translating Bach's music to any instrument, you could play Bach on tuned lawnmowers and vacuum cleaners and you'd be moved. Paganini composed for virtuosity only. The athleticism can be impressive (especially live) but Bach composed for "the glory of God". (even an athiest like myself gets a tiny twinge of a genuflecting knee when listening to my God, Bach.) You know what are impressive, though? Paganini violin unaccompanied solo caprices. They don't have the cheeseball piano accompaniment and they are quite a feat. He wrote 24 of those bad boys and I recommend listening to those. Thanks Dz! You made my day. I adore banjo and have loved Fleck for years, but never knew about this album.

Permalink posted 11/18/2007
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Carolyn O'Brien says hey, Dz, P.S. . . I think reading tablature is HARD! There is definitely hope for you. If you got flashcards, you could read those notes in 2 weeks. Trust me. I've taught people age 4 to 85 to read music. You are so smart, I swear, 2 weeks and you'd have it!

Permalink posted 11/18/2007
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Dzendvokh says I've seen Jon Fishman at a Phish show play a vacuum cleaner, but I don't think he ever tried Bach. Well, you never know, I'll have to wait till my mower gets fixed and I'll get back to you on that one.

Permalink posted 11/18/2007
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Carolyn O'Brien says Well, let's get some other gadgets for higher pitches, too. coffee grinders. handheld blenders, and egg timers for little pings. you know. like you do . . .

Permalink posted 11/18/2007