Bach Discussion Thread!
This thread is for discussing Johann Sebastian Bach.
Whether you are currently listening to, practicing, performing, or just being introduced to Bach, this is a place to share your thoughts, observations, and questions.
I hope to discuss:
- Favorite recordings & keyboardists
- Specific works
- Theory
- Anecdotes
- Technique
- Anything else related to Bach!
To start the discussion:
What are you currently working on, or what have you been listening to the most lately?
What are your opinions on historic pianos, modern pianos, and harpsichords for Bach, and why?
"It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself." - JS Bach
9 replies
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I am playing Bach Partita 2 right now. I have listened to Glenn Gould. He always has some interesting voicing. And I have listen to Martha Argerich. She plays very fast. I think I don’t want to play that fast and I will repeat all the parts and fill in some ornamentations, 🙋♀️
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I've been listening to Francesco Tristano's recordings of Partitas, Toccatas, and the French and English Suites. I really enjoy his Bach interpretation, and the quality of the recordings / tone of the piano.
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Thanks. I will listen to it. 👍
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I have learned very little Bach since returning to the piano. I somehow have felt unworthy to even approach him at this stage in my development simply out of awe and respect. I have reasoned that once I am able to climb a mountain and reach a certain level then maybe I'll be ready and begin my journey in this direction. I thought this would probably be still years away but this week I somehow caught the bug and will start with the first C-major Invention. There is no going back now.
In general, what is it that Bach produced that he has not set the benchmark with zero chance that any composer will ever surpass him? Every genre and instrument he composed for is the best their is but if I were asked to pick the music that represents Bach, to me I wouldn't hesitate to name with the Cantatas & Passions first followed by the Organ music. Then I would say all the rest of his instrumental music is pretty much equal (keyboard, violin, cello, lute, etc).
I do not have an issue with a modern piano being used (that is what I have to use) and I have no issue playing transcriptions of anything from Bach's output. Isn't this just scandalous?
While I haven't been working on any of the typical keyboard works previously I was indeed working on and playing Bach. Fortunately, for me, there are many transcriptions from various parts of the Cantatas from mostly 19th century composers. Alongside the main keyboard works I hope to learn in the future I will always happily keep working on these transcriptions.
As a pianist, the instrumental works tells me about the man but the choral works tells me about his heart. Together this is the complete picture.