help on bach-busoni

[aewanko]

especially "Ich ruf' zu dir, herr Jesu Christ" and "Nun komm de Heiden Heiland". got any tips on playing the accompaniment effectively as well as the tempo?

[ramseytheii]

The fascinating thing about Ich ruf zu dir is the clear division of three parts, the hypnotic repeated bass line, the weaving middle voice, and the chorale tune ringing out above all.  In order to play the middle voice properly, you simply have to treat it as if it was the most important part.   Can you play it from memory, without the other parts?  you should be able to.  Can you follow the long line and phrasing, without being aided by the chorale?  you should be able.

The same with the bass.  can you play it from memory, without the aid of the other parts?  Can you imitate the sound of the organ pedals with the bass?   Is the rhythm nuanced?

Busoni transcribed these preludes as exercises in touch.  All three parts have to have a different touch.  The bass should be slightly (ever so slightly) pushed in, so as to achieve equal sonority in top and bottom parts, and to get that little "poof" of attack that resembles the puff of air in the organ, and the attack should be almost (not quite) non-legato; the middle voice should be stroked, or "pulled out" as some people say, with extra careful attention that no note should stray from the line and disturb the texture, and the articulation should be legatississimo; the chorale should be played deep in the keys, cantabile style.

All the parts should feel different to play.

Walter Ramsey

[aewanko]

the only thing i had memorized is the main voice of the piece.

[ramseytheii]

the only thing i had memorized is the main voice of the piece.

Memorize the middle line!

Walter Ramsey

[aewanko]

Memorize the middle line!

Walter Ramsey

oh man, memorizing's not my thing. can you just give me tips on playing precisely while reading the sheet music instead? like what Richter did in his recitals.

[gerry]

Good try ramsey

[ramseytheii]

oh man, memorizing's not my thing. can you just give me tips on playing precisely while reading the sheet music instead? like what Richter did in his recitals.

Ok, though it probably won't be much like Richter.  Write out all the fingering for just the middle voice.  Then make phrases out of it.  Practice it by itself with the fingering you wrote down. Sometimes it goes back and forth between the left and right hands, so practice it exactly like that -just by itself.

The principle is take the middle voice and make music out of it.  It's not really that hard.

Walter Ramsey