Tomaso Antonio Vitali (March 7, 1663 –May 9, 1745) was an Italian composer … Read Full Bio ↴Tomaso Antonio Vitali (March 7, 1663 –May 9, 1745) was an Italian composer and violinist from Bologna, son of Giovanni Battista Vitali. He is well-known for a chaconne in G minor for violin and continuo, which is generally thought to be a musical hoax (it is presumed that the composition was either heavily altered, recomposed, or originally composed by German violonist Ferdinand David.)

One striking feature of the "Vitali" Chaconne's style is the way it wildly changes key, reaching the far-flung territories of B flat and D sharp minors, uncharacteristic of the Baroque era, and key signature changed typical only in Romanticism. Despite its dubious provenance, the piece has been ever popular amongst violinists. For example, Heifetz chose it to open his New York debut at Carnegie Hall in 1917.

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Chaconne in G Minor
Tomaso Antonio Vitali Lyrics

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The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

Comments from YouTube:

@RayChenViolinist

4y↑1.6K

Download my app Tonic today https://tonicmusic.app/join-in if you'd like join a community of musicians to practice together and stay motivated! 🎵

Thanks so much for watching! + If you enjoyed the performance, please leave a like and comment, and subscribe!

@jackattack2352

4y↑6

@shxtney

4y↑24

your performance was absolutely beautiful!! <3

@nijiiro2134

4y↑6

no social distancing in the crowd......

@christaherwig0404

4y↑7

Thank you Ray, you are great!!! My💚heard💙is💛flying💚towards💜you💕

@santimazo4037

4y↑7

Been waiting for this for years! Nice execution.

55 More Replies...

@gretahsieh3338

4y↑1.2K

Plot twist: Ray's eyebrows are actually doing everything, the violin is a paid actor

But seriously, this is amazing!!

@milagritosuwu5062

4y↑42

His eyebrows are more expressive than my face lol

@cupa6285

4y↑1

Yess XDD

@nataliamore5053

4y↑1

LOOLLL conspiracy theories

@harlinable

Yes

@benchow4602

What a great performance! Thank you very much❤

4 More Replies...

@scherzometer

1y↑98

My teacher handed me this solo, and without looking at it, searched it up. Thinking it would just be another solo, my jaw drops to the floor at all the stuff I’m gonna have to do. Thankfully, I am now in love with this piece, and I am determined to play it well. Great performance, and wish me luck!

@otony10

1y↑4

I do wish you luck...🙂😉
Ray does a phenomenal job of this piece. I did not appreciate this piece when my teacher pushed me to learn it. I guess because I had only ever heard my teacher play it for me during my lessons. I had never heard of this Chaconne nor had I ever experienced anyone performing it. It makes it hard to learn if you don't know what it's supposed to sound like when it is really played. Certainly if I had heard this performance by Ray Chen I would have been much more inspired and eager to learn this. I moved on to the Beethoven Violin Concerto after this - plenty of performances of that to listen to and learn from.

@suezuccati304

1y↑1

Gl <3

@MA-zb6um

23w

I was handed this piece when still in high school and did not think much of it. Same as you, I was ok but not REALLY thrilled. Thought it was not too challenging. Now that I have listened to it many years later, performed by Ray Chen, I did not realize how beautiful of a piece it is meant to be. Best of luck with you! 😊

@b.warner

4y↑451

How dare YouTube put an ad IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PIECE ugh

@shohamdas7741

4y↑45

Hate to break it to you... the publisher of the video decides where the advertisements go.

@b.warner

4y↑8

Shoham Das well damn. Smhhh

@TheNiStudio

4y↑13

Whoever inserts ads here is a barbarian

@asherang7

4y↑8

lamentable

@sneha1469

4y↑13

@@asherang7 sacrilegious

15 More Replies...

@elizabethgil6209

4y↑258

OH. MY. GOSH.
I don’t even know where to begin. The sound that he produces is godlike. I can really feel the emotion and the passion. Ray is amazing. The pianist is really really good too.
“Without emotions music wouldn’t sing”

@jacqueline4365

41w

Absolutely stunning 🥹

@maureelys

37w↑8

Ray Chen has an excellent mastery of the violin! The phrasing and tone are impeccable. He makes the violin sings. Wow! This rendition of Vitali is breathtaking and moving!

@aNgem17

4y↑434

Those octaves hit different. Such a spectacular performance, Ray! Can't wait to see you on stage again!

@harlinable

3y↑1

Enjoy

@bovleykamel78

3y↑3

i wish i lived in europe to see him on the stage and go to his performances i wouldnt miss one i really hate living in egypt because of this we dont have proper classical music or we dont have at all and when we have them they are extremely expensive like why 😔

@harlinable

事實上/我並不認識這個音樂/新的音樂也好嗎/是啊/

@harlinable

很棒啊/咱們一起去做想做的事吧/

@harlinable

很好啊

2 More Replies...

@swaghilash

34w↑18

6:30 is definitely giving me the transition from bargaining to depression
7:30 too
8:15 feels like clinging onto some little sliver of hope
8:35 is when it SINKS IN
AND IT SINKS HARD
8:51 never mind this is where it sinks in

@xxz5596

4y↑119

"Yaaaaas Daddy R O A R"

@arkachatterjee4816

4y↑11

:raysimp:

@Nickzhou0806

4y↑6

you stole my line

@diegocarrillo2360

4y↑3

ZENOBIIII LOL

@Owow4698

11w

DaddYYYYYY!

@markuspersson514

4y↑43

Vitali "Chaconne" here we go!

@michellemielru

1y↑19

As a non-musician, Ray's playing is very sharp, clean, and emotional. I would love this to be in Spotify too!

@shepelismofficial15

it's really nice. but a small note, don't compliment musicians telling them they're playing sharp 😅

@nathanzanelato2987

4y↑167

6:34 Remember kids: it's not a live performance if a random person doesn't cough in the middle of it. ;)

@abc_7717

4y↑14

Nathan Zanelato Of course someone just has to cough in the middle of the wonderful performance. (Though if they can hold it, they should)

@ILikeBirds

4y↑10

Angelcat K who needs to caugh that often anyways? And why in a performance?
Edit: after 3 months, I can finally spell “cough” 😃

@abc_7717

4y↑4

I Like Birds Yeah, they had to do it in the middle of a performance, like why???

@LucasOliveira-wo9xj

3y↑1

There's also a "pop" sound at the beggining 0:05

@hannahviolist7069

4y↑86

My favourite violin piece played by my favourite violinist! This made my day!

@mandu9636

4y↑247

This just helped boost my VITALI-TY

@elizabethgil6209

4y↑4

Hehe

@Daysesantos100

4y↑5

Well said! 🤣

@o04rkz0o9

4y↑2

Nyny I hate you

@rubinthepig1218

3y↑1

1) nice joke
2) get me a gun I want to die

@michaelmccabe1390

4y↑41

I was in the audience for this amazing concert, thank you Ray for sharing and bringing back such wonderful memories 🙏🎻

@nishlika

2y↑100

Non-musician here: I’ve just started exploring classical music more, and I don’t know what this piece is supposed to be about, but to me this sounds like long-lasting lovers saying goodbye to each other for the last time. So sweet and painful at the same time. Also, fantastic playing by Ray Chen!

@JohnJohnson-yi6jg

2y↑12

Props to you for deciding to explore classical music! I did the same thing on a whim when I was in high school and I've only grown to appreciate it more and more over time.

@makpazon11

2y↑2

To me it's Chamber Music. Intimate, usually up to 4 players. I used to belong to a chamber music club that served light meals in the break. It was phenomenal and non formal.

@threethrushes

1y↑7

Check out Bach's chaconne.

@kurri2529

1y↑8

Two lovers saying goodbye to each other for the last time.. damn. I've never imagined this piece like that but it matches it perfectly.

@kaloarepo288

13w↑2

Actually this is a very early piece of music belonging to the baroque period when the emphasis was far less on emotions but on forms - the emotional emphasis came with the romantic era which is the nineteenth century. However you can be forgiven because this piece is being played on instruments from that much later period and also in that later style. If you were to hear on original instruments for that era and in the spirit and technique of that period your impressions would be very different.

@cos2mer2

33w↑8

Magnificent piece. Beautiful violin. Masterful piano. Thank all three of you for this gift. God Bless!

@cereal_killer3606

29w↑3

ray has been playing for 12 hours straight in my computer

@rozelkim629

2y↑143

This is genuinely the most beautiful rendition of Vitali's Chaccone, I immediately stopped everything I was doing at the time to appreciate such stupendous playing. I couldn't have asked for a better interpretation. I wish you luck on your future endeavours, Ray Chen!!!

@rezqialmi2935

2y↑1

check milestone .

@MysticWolf1223

4y↑60

In all of violin repertoire, this has always been my favorite piece. I love it just as much as the first time I heard it several years back. The emotions that those notes bring out are beyond words. 10/10 love it, bro.

@jonwrubel8383

4y↑51

Read the thumbnail as "Cocaine". Wasn't sure if David Garrett was going to show up.
Beautiful playing as always.

@junliangho501

4y↑9

Ah yes my favourite Bach partita 2 “Cocaine”

@cubycube9924

😂😂😂😂😂😂

@jasonqing7083

4y↑1

Wait sorry but what does this have to do with David Garret? Was DG supposed to perform on this day?

@quillo2

41w↑16

Ray Chen, you are a maestro!
Thank you for this exquisite performance. God bless you!

@jtsai3182

4y↑768

Who’s Ray Chen? I must say though, he looks an awful lot like the famous Hank

@calvinliem8271

4y↑91

yea he kinda looks like hank chang isnt he....

@napo3091

4y↑7

Right!!?????

@liamyates5716

4y↑5

Thought so too

@mayday2947

4y↑22

Grassy TPOT To be compared to Hank is always a compliment!

@Lindraella

4y↑35

@@nickiiimartinez1946 to get the reference, check Ray's video where he poses as a student learning the violin with some lessons through video call. It's pretty good.

13 More Replies...

@user-us2xg7gl1t

43w↑7

Просто спасибо. Я это играла на выпускном, в школе, музыкальной в Москве. Сердце до сих пор в ушах стучит❤❤❤

@mostawesomestnamever

18w↑3

I cried the first time I heard this piece. It was the Heifetz recording with organ accompaniment. Beautiful. It's my 2nd favorite chaconne :)

@christaherwig0404

4y↑15

R A Y. C H E N . You are the greatest and most expressive classical violinist of our time!

@user-gd1zb3fi6t

11w↑2

やっと見つけました。
中学生時代の音楽の授業の時に同級生がバイオリンで弾いた曲！
この曲が忘れられなくて、でも誰の曲？かも知らなくて、またまた聴いたYouTubeの中にありました。
この曲をずーっと聴きたかったので
この曲を見つけられて嬉しいです。
古川君、お元気ですか？

@jacqueline4365

41w↑7

This wonderful violinist expresses all of his emotions in his facial expressions. I love watching this man play as well as listening to his magnificent playing 😍

@rafthegoat

1y↑5

The first time I fell in love with this piece was years ago when I heard the great J.Heifetz play it. It was a cold winter morning and I'm still in love with it now. I've also been listening to this recording every once in a while for the past two years, it is absolutely breathtaking. Thank you, Ray, for making content as great as this available for free. It truly uplifts my day and elevates my well-being.

@speedbird-ro7dm

4y↑40

Perfect octaves. wow!

@shohamdas7741

4y↑1

Time stamp?

@choiboix

4y↑1

I wouldn’t call those octaves perfect.

@harlinable

Agree

@alexsaldarriaga8318

4y↑11

A delicious, full bodied rendition of this romanticized “baroque” piece. Ray played it in the Golden Age style. I loved it! Bravo!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@Sorestlor

4y↑27

This is probably my favorite violin piece and it was played incredibly. It shall be replayed many a time for sure.

@sushibushi1652

4y↑13

Ray Chen's playing is Vital(i) for the people of the world!

@alikhoshru7663

3y↑7

To all the people complaining about the ad. You should count yourself lucky in the first place to just have a world-class soloist perform for you with a press of a button, free and with no time or space constraint. Stomaching an ad is the least you can do to respect the publisher, Rey Chen, and even Tomaso Antonio goddman Vitali himself

@interpretertranslator6677

35w↑1

Words cannot express the beauty of this interpretation! It is beyond words!!

@gavingan4256

4y↑12

It's amazing how Ray Chen always tries to portray a story when he performs.

@amelialamorin4371

4y↑48

Had the pleasure of witnessing Ray perform three times and its always a wonderfully different experience. I am looking forward to future performances.

@valayres1853

4y↑3

I watched his Bruch in Birmingham and Tchaikovsky in Dublin :)

@ofsabir

4y↑2

And I was at his last concert in Istanbul.

@signaturehereplease713

2y↑3

Wow you guys are so lucky

@stevedoolan6265

3y↑2

I tell you that page turner was awesome. Did you folks notice how well she worked with the pianist. Of course Ray was his usual great self but I thought seeing as nobody ever gives a shout out to the little guy or gal, that someone should. Stay healthy folks.

@lukascernicka3817

1y↑3

This is my most favorite Violin Classic melody... It is so deep and emotional. Every time i hear this i nearly cry. And when somebody talented nailed it like you. I am speechles... Simply ASTONISHING! 👏👏👏

@mina6647

4y↑97

OMG!!! My favorite piece played by my favorite violinist!! I'm definitely in heaven right now ಥ‿ಥ

P.s.: I'm surely going to use this video as a masterclass and hopefully after practicing 40 hours a day for the next 40 years I will be able to play this piece..
May Ling Ling be with me!

@jessicathekitten9615

3y↑9

May the power of Ling Ling bless you

@rakelflowers

3y↑5

SAME, to all of it

@kingwilliams9077

1y↑1

Ling Ling tips the scales in your favor

@Kyubiwan

38w↑1

The Andalusian bassline!!

@wenyitsai8235

3y↑6

9:25 gives me goosebumps every single time

@skrzypi9621

4y↑24

Current mood: emotionally traumatized after listening to Ray's interpretation of Vitali Chaconne. 😭 Ray why u do dis to me.

@BellaTeal

3y↑6

Wow, I love the bow stroke at 8:14. So clear and perfectly matches the mood.

@ashleysmith792

3y↑4

I have NEVER heard the octaves played with so much passion and clarity! Blown away!

@Holly-vm6jk

4y↑83

This is truly beautiful - I love this piece... and this really did make me smile (and get a bit emotional ahaha) in these tough times - thank you so much for sharing!! ☺️🎶

@anitadepantoja1

1y↑3

Vitali "Chaconne" is one of my favorite pieces. Loved the performance. In other life, I want to play this.

@n.9352

4y↑5

I’m crying. This is so good. It’s the time to release all your video Ray!

@lightyagami8768

4y↑3

Am I listening to an angel playing the violin?😭❤️😍

@raulq.o.4121

4y↑7

I’m ashamed of myself that I hadn’t heard this beautiful chaconne before but because of you, mr. Chen I found it and I’m loving it. As always, your playing is astonishing and full of emotion. The pianist is amazing too.
I’ve added a new piece to my repertoire (as listener). Thanks!

@Deneuvve

4y↑2

The astounding way of playing and phrasing are the reasons why Ray Chen is my violin hero, moreover he encoraged me to still playing violin, truly.

@arcturaa

2y↑1

I'm in tears in listening to this piece.

@daegm

4y↑13

Im a korean. I am a learning the Violin elementary level. Someday I will play the Vitali Chaconne.
you look nice!!

@aceybee943

3y↑8

the sounds are so delicate and beautiful! every note has its place, like the violin is actually speaking to us.

@MathMith

50w↑1

One day Ray Chen will come to Canada and wherever he lands, I'll be ready to roadtrip 4000 Km to see him live.

@dmb5libra82

2y↑8

A song I studied in my private sessions/lessons and began to parse apart and practice in the year 2000 (year long study as this was an advanced piece but a 10min piece was a lot for me for not going to college for music, it kept me away from taking my playing seriously in HS as I knew I would not get into a music program in college). I wish more ppl knew the beauty and amazing difficulty of this piece ❤️

@0924mingjean

2y↑2

Has listened to this thousands of times. never get rid of it.

@pjrcocoism

9w↑1

骨太なイメージなのに奏でられるメロディが繊細で華がある。今まで聴いた中で彼の演奏が一番完璧なシャコンヌ！

@Peechiness

4y↑2

I went to Ray Chen's concert in SF where he did a recital of Bach's Chaconne and right before, a gentleman next to me who was a violinist himself for 15 to 20 something years and said it was his first to see Ray. I said he is amazing and Iove Chaconne. The man proceeds to say how Bach's Chaconne is so complex and good. I said I agree, but I always loved Vitali's Chaconne and the man was triggered for 4 mins straight saying it's so simple to play, but I'd repeatedly exclaim " IT'S SO CATCHY THO." AND LOOK, I FOUND THIS VIDEO. made my day.

@mgustafson2010

2y↑3

Kind of an underrated gem by Ray. Just outstanding.

@1964ALCOZER

16w↑1

Most beautiful music ever

@joshsavage6338

2y↑1

Absolutely unbelievable. The BEST Chaconne Vitali I have heard thus far. I was in tears. Just wow.

@SnowJingxueWang

Ray’s Chaconne is definitely one of my favorite!! The sound, the phrase, omg I just love everything of his play. This is perfection.

@gaeranbab

4y↑46

Hi Ray. I still remember your watching your performance at the Seoul Art Center a few years ago on my birthday. You played Lalo and I was so inspired by your performance (especially the 5th movement) that I ended up learning the piece immediately. Thank you so much for sharing your music on youtube!

@nadinehowe477

2y↑2

Absolutely INCREDIBLE

@emilythielen6700

4y↑38

This is an amazing performance. I am not familiar with this piece, but Ray made me fall in love with it. Ray, you are a rockstar. A master of your craft.

@jock3rhd3

50w↑2

i would love to have that on spotify, because this really is the best version of chaconne I've ever heard

@ma_yuvari2215

2y↑2

So so beautiful so so so beautiful. Wow. Good job

@mirabel1063

4y↑8

So much emotion and color!

@user-ff8fv5di1s

1y↑1

これを聞いたことでこの曲のイメージができました。
練習します。

@GDO428

4y↑3

I’ve seen him live twice, Ravinia 2017, Chicago Symphony 2019. Both were amazing performances, and he’s super handsome in person hehe

@eslammohamedelshimy4557

4y↑2

Oh..
1 min in and I'm already crying

@musicalunicorn9159

4y↑4

Absolutely beautiful - brought tears to my eyes

@JC-oo1im

1y↑3

I enjoyed this performance so much that I listened to it at least 5 times today. There's something almost magical that drawn me to it.

@NekohiKohi

2y↑4

I absolutely adore this performance. From the start until the end it just flows.

@nb7524

3y↑1

I have watched Ray beautifully perform this gorgeous piece so many times since he posted this performance that I’ve lost count. Each time I watch him perform this piece it is like I am watching it for the first time. I never get tired of both listening to and watching Ray in this performance, I love it!❤️

@dragonix_yt9285

4y↑5

I think this is the best performance on YouTube🔥

@rosievernau338

2y↑3

Beautiful...in my saved list for when I need a good cry

@scheeny

4y↑1

Catch a lot on YouTube these days. This stands out for quality.

@icezphyl

4y↑2

This has got to be my favourite performance of Vitali Chaconne!! 😍😍

@jinchengzhxo

4y↑6

I have been waiting for this for so longgg
i played this piece last year and COULD NOT find a recording by ray FINALLY

@Azzlynn666

44w↑4

Ray is amazing this has got to be the most beautiful rendition of this piece I have ever heard ❤❤❤

@user-xr4bl4et3d

How sublime is your play and feeling this piece, Ray ❤ 😮

@uniquevh

4y↑3

Just wanna say thank u Ray for playing my fav piece, this is absolutely amazing!!

@reneeherring8499

4y↑3

So Surreal! If a painting could be made by his passion, expressions, his perfectionism, his love and unyielding amour of his illustrious technique of his instrument masterpiece . The painting would be priceless! Bravo💕💕💕

@ClarusMiskin

4y↑1

Heifetz, Sarah Chang, and now Ray Chen.. thanks Ray, you make my day..

@NaoisD

The perfect embodiment of what it means to passionately love and recklessly abandon oneself to another soul.

@maureenmanoly5512

2y↑2

So well-played! Every note was executed with great passion and dexterity. As a violinist, it is a joy to listen to Ray Chen. Excellent mastery of the piece and the instrument (flawless techniques and amazing phrasing)! Ray is one with his instrument. I can listen to him all day!!

@tbone4040

This video deserves at least 247K more likes.

@jenaer9394

4y↑11

It’s different seeing you without an orchestra behind you. I absolutely loved this performance! Can’t wait to see more!

@baschclv3426

4y↑7

I couldn’t ask for a more perfect performance of the piece. The clarity and emotion is simply sublime!

@anniejulien9024

16w↑1

❤je ne connaissais pas ce musicien que je félicite pour son immense. Talent et sa sensibilité toute en nuances merci pour ce moment de contact avec la beauté

@behappy5507

4y↑2

OH MYYYYYY GOD THIS IS INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL

@nadia_h3792

4y↑22

I couldn’t help but to move along and “conduct” in the air... ray’s playing realy hit different😩 Now, all of y’all from discord know that i bully the crap out of ray so if i’m complimenting him... i’m REALLY complimenting him. This performance deserves a HUGE compliment.

@vivsalittlebitcrafty4854

28w↑2

I felt every note, truly breathtaking performance.

@julia-yang

4y↑13

Thank you Ray so much for all the joy you bring to music for us ❤️

@lilcritter7407

2y↑1

the way i had this on repeat a million times…

@frcrrad1077

4y↑4

The musicality is so sweet in this performance. To get an idea of how good Ray plays it, try listening to Chaconne by any other artist. You will be able to appreciate the difference.