A Performer's Guide to Bach's Dance Suites (with Magdalena Stern-Baczewska)
Whether you play the guitar, violin, cello, flute, or the piano, you are invited to join this session with Magdalena, who returns to tonebase live for a discussion of Bach's dance music. Using musical examples from across Bach's instrumental dance suites, Magdalena will talk about the social currency and the rich tradition embodied in dance culture. You will learn the essential characteristics of the most popular dances, and gain powerful tools for an eloquent performance.
Follow this event link to tune in!
https://app.tonebase.co/piano/live/player/guide-to-bach-suites
We are going to be using this thread to gather suggestions and questions!
- What questions do you have on this topic?
- Any particular area you would like me to focus on?
-
Hello it鈥檚 Roy here from the UK. We are on our way into London to a dance lesson so we shall miss this session and Bach鈥檚 binary dance forms. We are working on our intermediate dance tests which are in a week鈥檚 time, we are taking with us a solo piano show Chopin waltz in A Minor because we think that might be a good tune to use for our slow waltz. Amazingly there is very little rubato in this version.
-
Roy James-Pike Please share video of your preparation for your dance test. We know you'll pass with flying colors. I think that Chopin waltz is a good choice because it is very simple and steady.
-
Gail Starr Helllo Gail, I hope you are keeping well. Thanks for your comment but we have pulled out of the dance tests. We-re underprepared, which was clear when we filmed ourselves. We were entered for 7 dances in total and we have had 5 months to prepare, so less than three weeks per dance. Bonkers! The intensive practice has lifted our dancing and the improvements that we need to make are self-evident. The filming is really useful because it is really difficult to know at speed whether the body is doing what the you think the brain is telling it to do! The plan is 'less is more' - no more than four dance tests at any one session.
-
Roy James-Pike Brilliant assessment! Filming ourselves in anything we do is always useful. I used to do it before I'd give a talk at conference, or give a lecture. And, of course, making videos for Tonebase videos is super helpful. I'd love to see one of your films, whenever you are ready to share a dance or 2.
-
-
Hey everyone, hope you enjoyed Magdalena's fascinating stream! I'm on the team for tonebase's Piano platform, and if you're a piano subscriber I encourage you to keep an eye out in October for her upcoming course on Baroque dance suites!
-
Noah Hardaway We always love Magdalena's classes. Can't wait for the next one!
-
Noah Hardaway My son actually reminded ME about the livestream it's usually the other way around. Then after the stream was over, he pulled out the French Suites and started playing.
Magdalena is one of our favorite presenters, and we look forward to the upcoming course!
-
-
Thank you, Magdalena! I agree with you about that most beautiful Sarabande with Jordi Savall. Gorgeous. (I've listened to it three times. :D) Thank you, Dominic!
Bach is always marvelous! Thank you to all who asked questions, too!
