Tonebase Bach Stage

Andrea Buckland Beautiful! Love this French Suite. 

Andrea Buckland you play with beautiful tones, and with an ever so gentle lilt. This is lovely, Andrea!

Natalie Peh Thank you so much, Natalie! 

Andrea Buckland I agree, this is very loveley, Andrea.  You really bring out the reflective, wistful qualities of this piece .  It seems like Bach allowed himself a little more of this kind of expressiveness in these Suites, somewhat more so than in the WTC. Would you say there's even a hint of sadness here? even though it does resolve into repose at the end... I hope that someday I can bring out these qualities in these pieces with a similar sensitivity. Presently I find that really difficult to do.

Peter Golemme Many thanks, Peter! Looking forward to hearing your Bach! 

Andrea Buckland thanks Andrea. I’m almost ready to post. I was away from home & piano for about 2.5 weeks earlier this month and it threw off my memorization regimen with my current piece (Bk 2 F Major).  But The Fugue is now just about memorized and I won’t wait to memorize the Prelude before posting.
 

I’d like to dispense with memorization sometimes because it is SO time-consuming, but I also learn so much more about a piece when I try to memorize it.  I’m seeing things in this Fugue that I had no idea were there when I previously just played through it. 

Andrea Buckland I love your thoughtful, conversational tempo.  Kind of sounds like Bach is giving loving advice to his dozens (?!) of children...

Andrea Buckland I love the lyricism of this performance!

Andrea Buckland so enjoyed that - thank you Andrea!

Harriet Kaplan Really enjoyed it Harriet! 

Harriet Kaplan Bravo, Harriet!! I love the energy you are giving the Fugue! Beautiful playing!

Harriet Kaplan I enjoyed listening to this Harriet, and the contrast you created with the slightly dreamy prelude and then the very catchy rhythm on the fugue is very appealing! 

Harriet Kaplan That's really nice Harriet.  sounds pretty far along to me!  I especially liked the subtle ebb & swell of dynamics in the Prelude. I've played this pair, and I'm rather stumped interpretively with what to do with the Prelude, but your ideas are really instructive and sound very natural. On the Fugue too I notice that you're holding the quarter notes for all or most of their duration. I've tended to play them non-legato (easier for one thing!) but I like the way it sounds when done your way.  The two parts of the subject stand in more contrast with each other, and you sustain the distinction through out the piece  - not easy to do.  Looks like you have it memorized or near=memorized too, or am I wrong?  anyway, I think this one's just about ready to bring on tour! maybe we'll hear it at the next community concert?

Peter Golemme thanks - I’ve been working on this all year because I’m prepping for an audition. So yes, it’s memorized. There are about a million ways one could play the prelude, and I’m still adjusting it.

Harriet Kaplan best of luck with the audition Harriet. The Tonebase postings are a great way to tune up for that.

Harriet Kaplan I love your thoughtful chromatacism.  Melodic but not too romantic!