Sunday, April 26, 2009

The Bach Project: Bluegrass Edition with Chris Thile

Chris Thile (L) and Joshua Bell (R) are featured in The Bach Project Film.


Chris Thile is a master of the mandolin, and a multi-talented musician. He has transcribed Bach to the mandolin and it is sensational. For someone who loves both bluegrass and Bach, his blending of two styles is jaw dropping. Then, as if this were not enough, Joshua Bell takes us even deeper, to the emotional components of Bach. He is one of the America's finest violinists, and here we find insights into the composer's work that are very revealing.

Chris Thiel on Bach


The video above is a brief excerpt from The Bach Project, now in post production and slated for release on DVD this summer by ML films.

When Baltimore filmmaker Michael Lawrence set out to film various musicians playing and discussing Bach, he had no idea how much cooperation he'd get. As it turns out, a stunning assortment of players have been filmed for Lawrence's upcoming Bach Project including violinists Hilary Hahn and Joshua Bell, singer Bobby McFerrin, the Emerson String Quartet, banjoist Bela Fleck, and mandolin player Chris Thile. Their involvement virtually guarantees a revealing examination of Bach's music.

The variety of short excerpts released by ML Films and available legally on You Tube is truly mouth watering. Here is another with Joshua Bell.

Joshua Bell on Bach


The Miraculous Mandolin is a much under-appreciated instrument.

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