The Chaconne - Partita #2 BWV 1004


About the Chaconne, Johannes Brahms once said:  "It is for me one of the most wonderful, incomprehensible pieces of music. On one stave, for a small instrument, the man writes a whole world of the deepest thoughts and most powerful feelings. If I imagined that I could have created, even conceived the piece, I am quite certain that the excess of excitement and earth-shattering experience would have driven me out of my mind.  

The Chaconne is "not just one of the greatest pieces of music ever written, but one of the greatest achievements of any man in history. It's a spiritually powerful piece, emotionally powerful, structurally perfect."  Joshua Bell


The Chaconne, written by JS Bach between 1717 and 1723 for the violin, is indeed a powerful composition.  Segovia, I believe, was the first to perform it on the classical guitar -- and caused quite a stir among purists at the time.  The work lasts for approximately 15 minutes.  I love playing it, but it must be requested in advance so that I can properly prepare.  Click on the picture above to hear an old recording I made of the piece.  Steven Hawson

Read more