Week 4 - The Whole Piece: Time to Share!

Hey everyone! 🎹

Final week of the Bach C minor Challenge! Wherever you are in the piece (the Prelude, part of the Fugue, or the whole thing), you've put in four weeks of real work, and that's worth celebrating.

For those finishing the Fugue, this week's suggested focus is Sections 12–14:

  • Section 12, Recapitulation & Coda (bars 20–31): hand redistribution, light thumbs, lift markings and ties, the drama in the bass line, and the coda.
  • Section 13, Fugue Consolidation: a full Fugue playthrough.
  • Section 14, The Full Piece: put the Prelude and Fugue together, and watch a performance video for inspiration.

Open the Track here: https://app.tonebase.co/piano/tracks/bach-prelude-and-fugue-in-c-minor-bwv-847

🎥 Time to share!

Share your recording as a reply in this thread by Sunday, Nov 1 to be featured in the Watch Party on Monday, Nov 2 at 11am PT.

It can be the Prelude, the Fugue, a single section, or the whole piece. Rough edges are welcome. This is about sharing where you got to, not perfection.

Live tomorrow: Tuesday, Oct 27, 11am PT, Deep Dive on the C minor Prelude and Fugue with me. Bring your last questions before you share!

Question for the week: if you could add one step to the Track, what would it be?

76 replies

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    • Brandy
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Well, here is my Week 4 submission, flaws and all! 😊 I haven't had as much time to practice since my Week 3 recording as I would have liked, so I'm not sure how much improvement there is, though I do feel some aspects are coming along better. Regardless, I'm glad to have participated in this challenge and to have worked through the entire piece!

    I would still love any feedback or suggestions for continued improvement, as I definitely plan to keep working on it!

    And please excuse the unexpected vacuum cleaner accompaniment during the Prelude. Apparently, my mother-in-law decided Bach needed a little extra instrumentation! 😂

      • Vicki_R
      • 3 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Bravo bravo.  Your Adagio in the Prelude is so expressive, your fugue subjects are clearly introduced, and the speed on the fugue is impressive.  Fantastic work for a month. :-) 

      • Brandy
      • 3 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement! 😊 I should clarify that I've actually been working on this Prelude and Fugue for quite a while, well before the challenge began. Since I was already in the midst of learning it, I thought the challenge would be a wonderful opportunity to get some additional feedback and, perhaps more importantly, push myself outside my comfort zone by sharing my playing with others. That's a challenge in itself for me! I'm so glad I participated, and I really appreciate your encouragement!

      • Vicki_R
      • 3 days ago
      • Reported - view

       A similar situation Brandy with myself.  I had played part of this prelude years ago very sloppily, and had never fully learned the notes, but never the Fugue.  I hadn't played the piano in years, and just last fall came back to it, so sharing with others for me, is also a challenge.  I thought you were very brave to post first at about the second week.  Anyway, excellent work! 👍

      • Vicki_R
      • 3 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Hi again Brandy.  Just looked at your site.  You are a teacher! Very impressive to have a music studio like that.  Anyway, it's a pleasure to meet you via this challenge. :-)  

      • Pianist, composer and piano teacher
      • Sindre_Skarelven
      • 3 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Bravo, Brandy! I very much enjoyed your recording. Good job completing the challenge 👏

      • vbashyam
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       Bravo! Wonderful playing!

      • Philosophy teacher and piano lover
      • Juan_Carlos
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       Great playing, Brandy! Bravo!

    • Brandy
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Also, it ended up that I could not make the live stream of the Deep Dive. Is there anywhere that I can watch a replay? Thanks!

    • Vicki_R
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Well, here is my Prelude (partial) and  fugue after 3.5 weeks.   I am so grateful to Dominic and the Tonebase team for these tracks.  This one has given me so much more confidence about playing Bach.  And grateful to others who shared their input, and progress.  It's been a lot of fun. :-) 

    Bach Fugue C minor WTC I.

     

    https://youtu.be/3WZhgINOG_8

     

    Here is the second half of the Prelude - FUN with the harpsichord! :-)

    https://youtu.be/gEIT_P4Btw8

      • Brandy
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       I love this! Very well done. Enjoyed listening to you play the fugue in particular. I also loved that you went with harpsichord sound!

      • Vicki_R
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       I appreciate your encouragement Brandy.  Hope to see you at another challenge sometime soon. :-) 

      • Pianist, composer and piano teacher
      • Sindre_Skarelven
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Loving the crisp sound of the fugue theme, and of course the harpsichord! Wonderfully done! 👏

      • Vicki_R
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

      Thank you Sindre. :-) 

       

      • Philosophy teacher and piano lover
      • Juan_Carlos
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

      Beautiful, sparkling fugue, Vicki!

      • Have a growth mindset, no matter what!
      • Gail_Starr
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

      love your articulation on the fugue!

      • Have a growth mindset, no matter what!
      • Gail_Starr
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       and super Halloween vibes on the Presto part of the Prelude!

      • Vicki_R
      • 23 hrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Thank you for your kind encouragement. :-)

    • Pianist, composer and piano teacher
    • Sindre_Skarelven
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Here is my little "work in progress" recording for this challenge. I had fun learning this! 

      • Vicki_R
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Great memorization ! :-) 

      • Have a growth mindset, no matter what!
      • Gail_Starr
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       Sindre is a world-class memorizer!

      • Have a growth mindset, no matter what!
      • Gail_Starr
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

      Great progress, Sindre!

      • Vicki_R
      • Yesterday
      • Reported - view

       yes i have seen this while observing other community concerts.  A great practice and skill to have. :-) 

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