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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: 2834









Released: 1990
Length: 2:24
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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(Instrumental)
Comments (201)add comment
Dear William,
sounds like you found a groove today. 
at least for this set.
Posted 1 month ago by laserace    [ Reply ]
Beautiful rendition of a classic done by a guy who tragically died too young.
Posted 9 months ago by brosen    [ Reply ]
 mread wrote:

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



Posted 1 year ago by pktinkler2984    [ Reply ]
 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. 
Posted 1 year ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 1 year ago by jacopo777    [ Reply ]
 

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
Posted 2 years ago by opaceo    [ Reply ]
Lovely.  Always a treat when this makes the list.
Posted 2 years ago by apmohn    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 2 years ago by mread    [ Reply ]
Lovely segue from the Kruger Brothers to Michael Hedges!
Posted 2 years ago by rhiangalthie    [ Reply ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Sting with Alessandra Ferri ...
Posted 2 years ago by fuego_01    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 2 years ago by SpinyNorma    [ Reply ]
Bach goes New Age. No Thanks. Wyndham Hell.
Give us Starker, Fournier or Casals
Posted 3 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
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. 
Posted 3 years ago by Fiddlefye    [ Reply ]
 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? 
Posted 3 years ago by bahalana    [ Reply ]
 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..
Posted 3 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
 campagnes717 wrote:


Bach or Hedges? ;) 



Bach. He was sitting with Elvis.
Posted 3 years ago by kazoo    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 4 years ago by Ben_D_Wire    [ Reply ]
Genesis "Horizons" may have been inspired by this...
Posted 4 years ago by PinkSo    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 4 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
This is J S Bach right?
Posted 4 years ago by Pilsenaaa    [ Reply ]
I can play this on piano but it will take longer :)
Posted 4 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
great track 
Posted 4 years ago by Estrelas99    [ Reply ]
 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"...
Posted 5 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
 Tomasni wrote:
Nice   BUT play    JS Bach   instead
 
Um, this *is* JS Bach.
Or do you have some 300-year-old recordings to share?
Posted 5 years ago by mread    [ Reply ]
 secretsauce wrote:
I feel really lucky to have seen him live in the patio of a coffee shop in Santa Cruz.
 
Lucky, indeed!
Posted 5 years ago by AbileneTexas    [ Reply ]
Nice   BUT play    JS Bach   instead
Posted 5 years ago by Tomasni    [ Reply ]
 bruceandjenna wrote:

What?  Why do you ask?
 

This is sometimes referred to as "a joke".
Posted 5 years ago by user4176    [ Reply ]
The one tune for the deserted island.
Posted 5 years ago by bruceandjenna    [ Reply ]
 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?
Posted 5 years ago by bruceandjenna    [ Reply ]
 campagnes717 wrote:


Bach or Hedges? ;) 
 
What?  Why do you ask?
Posted 5 years ago by bruceandjenna    [ Reply ]
Sublime.

And a nice segway into Uncle John Band.. It's an art.
Posted 5 years ago by bruceandjenna    [ Reply ]
 secretsauce wrote:
I feel really lucky to have seen him live in the patio of a coffee shop in Santa Cruz.
 

Bach or Hedges? ;) 
Posted 5 years ago by campagnes717    [ Reply ]
 bluematrix wrote:

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

  
I will third the motion.  

Posted 6 years ago by xtalman    [ Reply ]
I've heard so many versions of this composition that were a pure massacre... this one is really divine.
Posted 6 years ago by eveliko    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 6 years ago by bluematrix    [ Reply ]
The Shaggs could have played the Prelude and it would have still sounded magnificent. 
Posted 7 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
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. 
Posted 7 years ago by the_jake    [ Reply ]
One of my favorite instrumental albums - excellent from first piece to last.
Posted 8 years ago by Clarentine    [ Reply ]
Man, sure do miss Michael Hedges' music and presence in this world!
Posted 8 years ago by mardisoninnc    [ Reply ]
 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 
Posted 8 years ago by swart    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 8 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
I'm sure Mr. Bach would appreciate this.  {#Cheesygrin}
Posted 8 years ago by DanFHiggins    [ Reply ]
Bach SUCKS! Play more friggin FLOYD man (coughs, spits, scratches self, rates a 3)
Posted 8 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 8 years ago by Kaw    [ Reply ]
There are probably technical quibbles with his execution, but the placement is SO refreshing…
Posted 8 years ago by lee_sf    [ Reply ]
Love, love, love this!
Posted 8 years ago by pianogirl    [ Reply ]
Air for strings {#Sunny}
Posted 8 years ago by luk4zen    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 8 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
 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. 
Posted 8 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
Beautiful!
Posted 9 years ago by AbileneTexas    [ Reply ]
Thought i was listening to Genesis Horizons at the start...
Posted 9 years ago by Bert7    [ Reply ]
JSB would be proud!
Posted 9 years ago by ajlept    [ Reply ]
Something's missing here. Can't quite put my finger on it...
Posted 9 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
10 - for JSB.
Posted 11 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
 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.)
Posted 11 years ago by mread    [ Reply ]

Even the frozen Oregon sidewalks love this today.


Posted 11 years ago by d-don    [ Reply ]
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh   {#Sunny}
Posted 12 years ago by NeuroGeek    [ Reply ]
I concur!   pcicatar wrote:
Yes!  {#Meditate}
a_genuine_find wrote:
eleven

 

 


Posted 12 years ago by jen3005545    [ Reply ]
ahhhhhh
Posted 12 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
Yes!  {#Meditate}
a_genuine_find wrote:
eleven

 

Posted 12 years ago by pcicatar    [ Reply ]

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...


Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
Ahhhh  . . . so nice to hear someone who can make Bach come alive. Bach is wasted on beginning music students. :)
Posted 13 years ago by randerse10    [ Reply ]
eleven

Posted 13 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
This is exquisite - exactly perfect for my mood today... {#Meditate}
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
Interesting. Michael Hedges,Nick Drake,Joe Strummer,Morphine. You ok there Bill?  Then Kasabian? (that's Linda for you toddlers) quick someone call 911.

Posted 13 years ago by DD rabbi_phil    [ Reply ]
 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!

Posted 13 years ago by juanos    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 13 years ago by coyote620    [ Reply ]
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 
Posted 14 years ago by bobcat1963    [ Reply ]
Does anyone know where I can purchase this mp3? The key word here being purchase... ; )

BB
Posted 14 years ago by bbryan    [ Reply ]
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...

Posted 14 years ago by mooblie    [ Reply ]
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.

Posted 14 years ago by Elliot    [ Reply ]
Michael Hedges was an original....too soon gone.
Posted 14 years ago by Jeff09    [ Reply ]
 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. 
Posted 14 years ago by Albert1967    [ Reply ]
Bach on the guitar is always so good.
Posted 14 years ago by twitterpated    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 14 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
Great...just don't want to go to sleep on a Friday afternoon....
Posted 14 years ago by raewah    [ Reply ]
Genius.  R.I.P.
Posted 15 years ago by snowcat    [ Reply ]
Love it when those bass notes come in.
Posted 15 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
 iTuner wrote:
We've been Flecked to death. This is a good change.
 

{#Roflol}
Posted 15 years ago by ronniegirl    [ Reply ]

I miss his work.....


Posted 15 years ago by George_Tirebiter    [ Reply ]
Good stuff.....
Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 15 years ago by NeuroJoe    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 15 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
9 for the performance; 10 for the music.  9.5 isn't available, so I'm rounding up.
Posted 16 years ago by nate917    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by asbellem    [ Reply ]
I feel really lucky to have seen him live in the patio of a coffee shop in Santa Cruz.
Posted 16 years ago by secretsauce    [ Reply ]
miss the words for describing this sound. great. really.
Posted 16 years ago by lando    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 16 years ago by kfarrnd    [ Reply ]
The time stops for a while, when listening to this.
Posted 16 years ago by rolfj    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by prickelpit96    [ Reply ]
Oh man, yet another artist that was stolen from us waaay too soon. I still grieve every time I hear something by Michael.
Posted 16 years ago by SoundChaser    [ Reply ]
I've got about 5 versions of this on my MP3 player for walks in the woods.
Posted 16 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
Nice!! Very very nice!
Posted 16 years ago by Candela    [ Reply ]
Nice! Thanks.
Posted 17 years ago by kindermanltd    [ Reply ]
Man alive, Bill. I don't know how you do it...
Posted 17 years ago by zappaesque    [ Reply ]
sfListener wrote:
thank god it's not a banjo.
Well, God may grant us what we need, rather than what we want......... 10! Magnificence!
Posted 17 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
I wonder what instrument Bill plays. Most people don't like Bach unless they have had music lessons at some point. . .
Posted 17 years ago by wferrier    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by iTuner    [ Reply ]
Nice
Posted 17 years ago by firerytrigon    [ Reply ]
Loved hearing this today!
Posted 17 years ago by jredd2    [ Reply ]
thank god it's not a banjo.
Posted 17 years ago by sfListener    [ Reply ]
ploafmaster wrote:
Sweet - now we just need to hear Horizons by Genesis...
Horizons is not by Genesis, It's Steve Hackett !!
Posted 17 years ago by felix_the_man    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by sfearll    [ Reply ]
thank you .
Posted 17 years ago by earth2claire    [ Reply ]
Merci.
Posted 17 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
Beautiful follow up to Nick Drake
Posted 17 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
BRAVO!!!
Posted 17 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
I second that, although I -really- love YoYoMa's interpretation of it, this is great too!
Posted 17 years ago by davyjrshort    [ Reply ]
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)
Posted 17 years ago by annanyc    [ Reply ]
Michael was the coolest! I miss him.
Posted 17 years ago by mjaded    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by tapatia    [ Reply ]
Was wondering why this reminded me so of Christmas, then I realized I have this on a Christmas CD. Whew! 9.
Posted 17 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
Interesting....not quite as beautiful as a cello, but it's nice.
Posted 17 years ago by meadowwoods    [ Reply ]
Art at it's highest.
Posted 17 years ago by slowhand    [ Reply ]
How did you know that I deeply needed precisely this? Thank you RP.
Posted 17 years ago by federico    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 18 years ago by slartibart_O    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 18 years ago by Spot_69    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 18 years ago by stok    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 18 years ago by NeilBlanchard    [ Reply ]