Easiest Of Three Bach Transcriptions

[freakofnature]

Hey guys!

I'm thinking of learning a transcription of a Bach piece and found three that I really like. These are:

- 'Jesu bleibet meine Freude' a. k. a. Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring (transcr. by Hess)
- 'Ich ruf zu Dir Herr Jesu Christ' (Busoni)
- 'Nun komm der Heiden Heiland' (Busoni)

Which one of them do you think would be the easiest one? I'm thinking of learning all three, but as they have quite similar difficulties I would like to start with the easiest of them...

Best wishes,
FoN

[thalbergmad]

I have only ever played the first one, but taking a quick look at the scores for the 2 Busoni transcriptions (I am not a good sightreader), i would say that the Hess is the easiest.

With Bach transcriptions, you have a million different choices.

For what it is worth i feel Friedman and Siloti are worth investigating.

Although i am not a great lover of Sorabji, his Chromatic Fantaisa is complete genius.

Thal

[soliloquy]

You might also look at the Bach-Petri "Sheep may Safely Graze".  That's a really nice piece, and technically rather easy, although the voicing can be tough.

[pianistimo]

wilheml kempff did some nice arrangments, too, of 'jesus, joy...'  which i think is the easiest of the three. 

'awake, the voice is sounding'  bwv 645  - is my favorite to play with the voicing - but it is much more involved.  i'd say the busoni will be 'connecting' voicing more.  it's harder, but well worth learning.  i thought i liked the busoni best until i found the kempff.  both are really nice!

the siciliano from the flute sonata #2 is really nice, too!  by kempff.

ps the book is entitled 'js bach - 10 pieces transcribed for piano by wilhelm kempff'

[dabbler]

The Bach-Busoni choral preludes are all great and very emotional pieces and leave a lot of room for working on a nice tone (also the "Wachet auf ruft unsere Stimme" mentioned by pianistimo); don't know the Hess or Kempf transcriptions. "Ich ruf' zu Dir Herr Jesu Christ" would be the easiest start IMO. I'd also recommend the Pletnev "Songs without words" CD, where he plays a number of the Bach-Busoni. Good luck and enjoy!

[burstroman]

Cortot's transcription of the Arioso from the keyboard concerto is not difficult.  Cyril Scott has a fairly easy transcription of "My Heart Ever Faithful".

[freakofnature]

Thanks for your suggestions!

I have decided to start with "Ich ruf' zu Dir Herr Jesu Christ", as it seems to be one of the easiest and is relatively short (only around 20 measures). There seems to be a great range for the tempo, as I have recordings that spread from around 3 minutes to almost 4:30...

Time to start practicing...

[pianistimo]

i heard my favorite (k 645) played last night (unfortunately they never said who  played it) - and the first 3/4 was played at a fairly moderato tempo - but the last part was slowed down drastically.  it made a really unique impression on me - and i think i will attempt it like that from now on.  the last two lines or so.  it wasn't so slow as to be abrupt - but it was like suddenly like adding another instrument or organ setting to the very end - and had a purposeful appeal to it.  i also vaguely remember that with the trills and ornaments - they were also slowed way down at the end - and seemed to be grouped into pairs (evenly, though - da da  da da  da da) and very beautiful.