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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Hi fellow tonebase pianists. I had to take a break for a few months due to a sprained finger but excited to participate in the new challenge this month with my favorite composer. I'm going to work on an earlier and rather unique Bach piece, the Capriccio BWV 992. Before my injury I was working on Goldbergs but there's a separate thread for that where I hope to post my progress as well since that's a long term project.
BWV 992 is interesting because it is a programmatic piece with a story and descriptive text associated with each movement. I hope to post the first movement within a day or two. Looking forward to seeing everyone's submissions.
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Hi Hilda , welcome to Tonebase! It's so great to have a Bach expert to guide and inspire us! Evan Shinners (has made a few tonebase Bach lessons) has a podcast about Bach and he talked about this piece in detail in one of the episodes that I listened to when I couldn't play. Figured this would be a good time to dive in as it's not too challenging relative to some of the other pieces. A couple of good performances of this on yt....
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Brett Gilbert Thanks a lot Brett! What's your favorite performance on yt? This is one of those pieces that I've just curiously never yet come around to: it's quite galant in a way, and I think in my past I've valued other things in Bach style so I just haven't gotten here yet. Can't wait to hear you play it, maybe you'll convert me!
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The 2 pieces I'd like to work on for the Bach challenge month are the Andante from Bach's Concerto in Italian style (BWV 971). I've previously played this (just this movement), but did not memorize it, so would like to memorize it while re-learning it for the challenge. The way I came across this piece is that I heard it played in some indie film (think it was measures 7-12) and the melody so haunted me, not in a scary sense but it just left a very strong impression on me. I don't remember how I figured out what it was, but I bought the manuscript for it as soon as I did (the Tureck/Bach Urtext series). Those measures are still my favorite, although I've grown to love the entire piece as well.
The new piece I'd like to work on is the Rondeaux from Bach's Partita #2 in C minor (BWV 826). I only became familiar with the Bach partitas last year. In the Summer of 2021, I learned to play the 1st movement of Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique and in doing research on that piece came to learn the opening Grave was inspired by this Partita #2 of Bach. Doing a search on Youtube, I came across Martha Argerich's stunning performance and fell in love with the piece. The Rondeaux to me expresses pure innocent joy and my favorite parts are the opening eighth notes played between the hands which repeats throughout the piece. I also like measures 81-87 as the RH melody is quite different and especially playful in this section.
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Anthony Miyake Isn't Martha AMAZING?!!? I have always loved her. A friend of mine has met her!! Backstage at Verbier. Ugh, my jealousy! Hahaha...
Have fun learning!! Sounds fabulous, Anthony.
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Brother Will Green , I've heard her referred to as the Beyonce of the piano, LOL. Yeah, she's one of my favorites, too. I was surprised to learn she has quite a broad following. I follow this rock guitarist on Youtube named Rick Beato and it turns out he's a big Martha Argerich fan. He's also a big fan of Bach's music as I'm finding musicians of so different genres of music are.
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Anthony Miyake I absolutely love Martha’s playing, especially of Bach.
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I've chosen two pieces, the Overture in the French Style (one of my favorites!!!) and the Busoni transcription of the Chaconne. Monika inspired me this afternoon to learn the Chaconne during our livestream chat, a piece that I love very much and have been wanting to put in my repertoire. Also, the French Overture has always attracted me because it lends itself well to individual personalities through the seemingly infinite variety of ornamentation one can take throughout all of the dances and sections.
I'm uploading here one of my favorite sections of the Chaconne! I look forward to sharing more with you to hear your ideas and your thoughts about this repertoire. I've decided to perhaps play this section a bit faster than most, but I think it helps harmonically as we speed up to the various cadences. It keeps the flow going! Sometimes the Chaconne can become bogged down unnecessarily.
I look forward to hearing what everyone thinks of their repertoire choices and listening to their playing. Thanks Hilda and Dominic for this month's challenge!! <3 XOXO
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Brother Will Green Sounds great! This is a very challenging piece and your excellent voicing really makes it shine in the right places. I love this transcription but also the left hand Brahms transcription which is a nice contrast.
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Brett Gilbert Thanks, Brett! Yes, I love that, too!!
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Brother Will Green Wonderful playing! Thank you for sharing your work. I've never approached this piece- you are inspiring me to at least take a look at it. Each time I've seen/heard your playing here on Tonebase I have been inspired not only by the musicality but also the lack of tension in your hands/wrists/arms. I have a lot to accomplish on that front :-)
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GerryM Thanks, Gerry!!! It’s an inspiring piece to play. Can’t wait to hear you!! :)
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Brother Will Green wish it did not end there, I love the Chaconne. can't wait to hear the rest!
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Qingzhi Thank you!!! XO
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Brother Will Green It sounds great! I love this transcription, a masterpiece by two composers. Thank you Brother Will Green.
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Juan Carlos Olite Brother Will Green Is this a different transcription of the Chaconne? I didn't know there was one for two hands :D this is so cool!
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Juan Carlos Olite I am glad you like it, Juan Carlos!!! xx
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Hilda Huang Ooo Hilda!! Yes!! This is a transcription by Busoni. I’ll play more of it and record the whole thing by the end. Check it out, it’s my favorite Bach transcription of the Chaconne! The left hand one is beautiful, too, but this one really captures the majesty of the piece, I think. Thanks for listening :)
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Brother Will Green I agree that you are an absolute inspiration! Marvellous! Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
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Brother Will Green
Thanks for sharing this, it sounds good.
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Hi, I like to continue with the Goldberg Variations - focusing on number 21 to 25. Also I fell in love with the Toccata of the e-minor Partita. Will see how much I can do… My main focus though has to be Schubert again, as the in-person masterclass is coming up and the f-minor fantasy still needs a lot of attention. Looking forward to this wonderful Bach (and Schubert) month!
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What piece did you choose? How did you learn about it?
So I have never really been the biggest Bach fan (gasp sorry!). I some how got away without playing much aside from a few of his two-part inventions when I played as a child. Recently I had started listening to Vikingur Olafsson for his Debussy-Rameau album. After loving that entire album I started listening to some of his other albums. It was there that I became acquainted with the Prelude and Fugue in C Minor from Book I of the WTC. I thought it was such a fun piece that I wanted to give it a go for this challenge.
What's a favorite passage of yours in the piece?
I really like from bar 17 - 20 where is modulates from G minor to C minor and then in bars 22-26 where it modules from C minor to E flat major and then back to C minor. There is so much going on and it so fun to see how me morphs the material.
What's one musical or technical decision you made while practicing your piece?
No pedal at all. While maybe at the end when I want to polish the piece I can add a bit. But I need to figure out how to get all 3 voices correct and not muddled at all. I have also decided to listen to as many interpretations as possible. Since I have not played much Bach I need try rely on other at this point to figure out the "correct" sound.
And now for my rendition of the first 15 bars of the C minor Fugue. BTW I would not recommend listening to this unless you want to have your ears bleed. I think I am an okay pianist but I am finding this piece so mentally taxing. I can barely make it a few bars with my brain getting confused and playing non-sense.
That being said I think it's good for me to record so (hopefully) I can see how much I have improved when it's over.
Again, viewer discretion is advised. You have been warned :)
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Michael Love it!!!
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Michael Sounds very nice!
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Michael I can relate to your comment about your brain getting confused. I am working on my first Bach piece (besides the Minuets), Invention #1. It makes my brain hurt! Good job. Keep up the good work!
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Michael I hear you - when I play Bach's fugue, I feel I have to take break more often than I usually do, for the brain!
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