Bach in March WEEK 1: Practice Updates
Dear Pianists,
Welcome again to Bach in March! Bach is the composer closest to me and I can't wait to share this March with you in practicing Bach. This is the thread where we'll all be posting our biweekly updates for this month's community challenge.
For those who have been here before - you may post video or audio updates just as you did in Discovering Schubert Month! And for those who are new - uploading a video to youtube is often the best way to go! You can then post the youtube link to your video, or embed it directly in your reply.
The introduction and welcome to Bach in March will give you orientation for the community challenge activities, and provide you with a schedule of relevant livestreams, performance opportunities, and repertoire suggestions.
I'm always curious to hear about your practice experience and encourage you to write replies. If you can't think of where to start, here are some questions to jog your mind:
- What piece did you choose? How did you learn about it?
- What's a favorite passage of yours in the piece?
- What's one musical or technical decision you made while practicing your piece?
Feel free to make these updates as short or long as you wish!
Happy Bach Sounds!
Hilda
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I don't know why I love so much playing Bach music. It is something very difficult to explain. It is something that refresh your mind, body, spirit... everything that is you. So, when I play the piano I always begin with Bach and if there is time for another composer, it is great; but if there is not much time, it's perfectly ok, only Bach... It could call a complete addiction but, I hope you agree: a very healthy and happy addiction.
Well, I am so glad to have a Bach month, thanks to Hilda and Dominic. My first video is such a beautiful piece as the French Suite nº 5 BWV 816, cheerful and bright music. It seems that Bach composed it in a happy moment of his life, in Köthen.
I would like to make more videos this month, at least an abridged version of the Goldberg Variations which I am playing because of the Tonebase Longterm Community Challenge.
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Juan Carlos Olite , wonderful! I really enjoyed it. It's like each movement is its own gem of a piece. I also share your "addiction" to Bach.
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Juan Carlos Olite Very good Juan Carlos! I liked all the musical styles you brought out. I have one criticism, I think you should have smiled at the end.
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Juan Carlos Olite I love it! Thank you very much for sharing your beautiful playing. I'm glad you have a nice place to play with sunshine and a nice view as well. Perfect for a Bach French Suite!
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Juan Carlos Olite My favorite French Suite! Thanks for sharing. Bravo!
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Bravo Juan Carlos ! I remember you memorize your pieces (very impressive) so the music must just be a prop for your video
. Great to listen to you as always. -
Juan Carlos Olite Thank you for a wonderful musical treat! This performance has the perfect balance of depth and playfulness. Good on you for starting every practice session with Bach - this is a habit that I will try to emulate.
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Juan Carlos Olite Also agree with you 100%... a very happy and healthy addiction. This piece is maybe one of the sunniest I know. The clarity you achieve in the tone serves the counterpoint very well. What do you think it would feel like if you emphasized the left hand more? Right now I hear a lot of soprano, which is very beautiful. Sometimes people talk about the bass driving the harmonic plan and motion in baroque music.
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Juan Carlos Olite Wow! This is lovely. Thanks for sharing this
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Andrea Buckland Thank you very much, Andrea!
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Anthony Miyake Thank you so much, Anthony! Every single piece of Bach is beautiful, but this French Suite is very special, perfecto to start the day in a good mood.
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Richard George Littlewood Thank you, Richard! You're right
, I'll try to remember it for next time -
GerryM You're right, it's the perfect piece for a nice sunny day in Spain, even if it's a "French Suite". Thank you very much, Gerry!
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Brett Gilbert
Yes, it's true, well... I think the music was just in case..., playing Bach by heart is a good memory exercise, but doubts easily arise
! Thank you so much, Brett! -
Monika Tusnady Thank you so much, Monika! I don't know a better way to start
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Hilda Huang Thank you so much, Hilda! , I really appreciate your advice, I should give more presence to the left hand, I'll try to do it when I play baroque music.
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Natalie Peh Thank you very much, Natalie!
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Vidhya Bashyam Thank you very much, Vidhya! It's a very spirited piece.
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Juan Carlos Olite Love it!
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Parag Mehta Thank you very much, Parag!
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Juan Carlos Olite this is super great. Keeps playing more and more.....
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Hello all, uploaded this, and would like to share it with you all. Feel free to listen.
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CK So pretty!
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CK a lovely performance - humble and understated, just as it should be!
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CK I love this. It’s one of my favourite party pieces! Is that the Cortot arrangement?
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CK Thank you CK. Beautiful playing.
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