Well tempered Clavier question

[rlefebvr]

Hello there,

I was the store and about to buy a book called the Well tempered Clavier by Chopin that I keep hearing about in this forum. However, it is book 1 and now I am not sure I am getting the right thing.

Should I be looking for something more specific or are there simply several volumes to this.
This is a pretty huge book and I was under the impression you guys played this as a warm up. That seems impossible unless I am not looking at the right thing.
Just a little confused.

By the way, for those who have helped me before, I have a new piano teacher. After spending a month or so in this forum I realize I cannot possibly get better at this stage without help.

So it's back to re learning scales and their relation to Chords, understanding chords and their composition, Arpeggios, classic pieces, theory and more theory.

[bernhard]

Er...

I think you mean the Well Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach.

There are 48 preludes and fugues divided in two volumes. (It is actually two sets of 24 preludes and fugues covering all minor and major keys - they were composed almost 20 years apart - I like book 1 better - but that is just an opinion).

I doubt people would play the whole set as a warm up (it would take some three hours!). But a couple of them every day keeps the doctor away!

Get the two volumes: it is the old testament of music!

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[lani]

Love the WTC Preludes-my daughter warms up with the first one (Cmjr) and most famous for its being the base for Ava Maria (Bach/Gounod).  Very relaxing for Mom's to listen too! The 23rd is her next favorite from Book 1.  Good luck! Lani

[faulty_damper]

I think Dover publishes both volumes in one book.  Pretty cheap for $10 USD.  But they do come in a complete volume so you don't have to buy two separate ones.

[newsgroupeuan]

The ABRSM version is also quite good.

My favorite is the Cmin from book 1.

[rlefebvr]

I got the Czerny versions. Hope that is okay.Some of the notes are on the first staff instead of the second, which I prefer, but most have notation for the fingers and that was more important to me. Most of them look too hard for me however on a quick glance.

Also got Grieg Lyric pieces OP 12 and 38 after hearing about it on this forum. Don't know if they are worth it, but they are certainly more to my level of play. (lots of work, but doable)

[bernhard]

Czerny’s edition of the WTC is usually frowned upon by the experts. His tempos are considered far too fast, and a lot of research on original manuscripts (which were not available to Czerny) made subsequent editions more faithful to the original. (For instance, in prelude no. 1 Czerny added a whole bar between bars 22 and 23 to it) Moreover Bach did not supply any dynamic markings or slurs/phrasing signs/fingerings. So it is all Czerny’s directions rather than Bach’s.

Czerny’s edition however has a plus side to it: It is supposed to be the way Beethoven played the WTC. So even if you decide not to follow its directions, it is still interesting to compare with whatever edition you are using and with the way you have decided to play it.

I myself use the ABRSM edition because I like Donald Tovey’s comments.

Best wishes,
Bernhard

[comme_le_vent]

i have the ABRSM versions too, they are great, and yeah the comments are uselful.

i love bach, but thats only because i actually put in the effort to get used to his style, his musical style is extremely contrapuntal and it is difficult for most people to adapt their ears to enjoy this type of music.

consequently i LOVE the WTC because ive listened to it so damn much, but i still have to put in an effort to enjoy his other music.

as far as interpretation goes...i prefer a kinda romantic approach in the preludes, and a very sensetively contrapuntal approach in the fugues.

[rlefebvr]

"Czerny’s edition of the WTC is usually frowned upon by the experts."


Now he tells me......Man, I hope I did not throw out the receipt.
Knowing me, I am sure I did.

[lani]

Re: Comme_le-vent's remark re: Romantic style preludes-we agree!  However, my daughter played the 1st and twenty third prelude from Book I back to back for a competition-two of the judges loved her impression and the third dissed it as "very Romantic, but is it Baroque?" Oh well, goes to show you for how subject to interpretation Bach's pieces can be! Regards, Lani

[comme_le_vent]

the judges should know that there is not right or best way to play bach, all great music is very versatile.

its also funny that you say he 'dissed' it - sounds like a rapper talking - yo sup ma peeps - this one goes out to all ma homies in da hood.
sorry couldnt resist.