Prelude G minor from WTC book 1

[tutti]

Hi!
Is there anyone who has played Prelude G minor (WTC 1)? Do you use right pedal when you are playing trills? And by the way what do you think about pedalisation of Bach´s "piano" works...
Ta

[canardroti]

Hi there, I've played this prelude and I've heard people using light pedal for the trills giving it a nice sound without sounding muddy.
I personally don't use any but I don't see why you shouldn;t as long as it's not too much pedal.
Best Bach's prelude by the way , especially played Gould style.

[bella musica]

I've played this P+F before too, and I used just a touch of pedal on the trills to keep them from sounding too dry.  I think a dry trill in a piece like this gives too mechanical of a sound. 

As to using pedal in Bach, I would say as a general rule to only use it when needed.  For example, I think it is ridiculous to be playing a nice smooth line and then have some staccato-ish, awkward sounding part poked in the middle because your hand isn't big enough to continue using a legato touch, and you refuse to use the pedal. 

I forget who said this, but once somebody asked a concert pianist if he used pedal in Bach, and he said 'Yes'.  When asked why, he said, 'Well, I don't show up at the concert hall with a horse and buggy do I?'

If you really want to be a purist, play Bach on the organ or harpsichord.  I think it's silly to argue about whether or not to use pedal when playing Bach, when really it's more appropriate to argue about whether we should play Bach on the piano at all!  He didn't even like the instrument for heaven's sake.

[kitty on the keys]

One of my favorites! I agree with the others, you have to use a light pedal---it adds a little color to your sound. Ive used it in the Bb partita, the c minor partia, the toccata in e, and the Italian concerto (2 mvt.) just use your ear and good musical decisions. do you want to sound like a harpsichord or a piano---your call.



Kitty