Hardest Bach Piece

[firediscovery]

What is the most difficult/challenging work by J.S. Bach for SOLO PIANO? The work can be anything from a suite/partita, to the Well Tempered Klavier, to the Goldberg Variations. What is the overall most challenging piece? Please discuss it and explain why you believe it to be the most difficult piece.

[claude_debussy]

Without question, the Goldberg Variations are by far the most difficult - the hand crossings alone pose tremendous challenges and must be worked out individually. 

Single-frame the DVD of Gould's playing for a lot of clues, but far from the whole answer. 

Also the variation form creates numerous challenges in this immense piece - each one requires a different solution. 

Then there are the ornaments ...

[gerryjay]

first, i must say that - debates apart - there is no such a thing like bach's piano works. as far as i am concerned, he wrote most of his keyboard works with the harpsichord or the organ in his mind.

that said, i would suggest two works: goldberg variations (agreeing with claude) and the art of fugue. btw, aimard's recording of the latter is just superb.
 
the chaconne transcription of busoni is also a (pleasant) nightmare, but doesn't make a fingernail of both former works.

best!

[pianisten1989]

first, i must say that - debates apart - there is no such a thing like bach's piano works. as far as i am concerned, he wrote most of his keyboard works with the harpsichord or the organ in his mind.

Dude... come on, you know what he meant. Almost every pianist plays Bach on a piano, during auditions etc.

It's like saying There is no such thing as beethoven PIANO sonatas, exept for hammarklaver and later (kind of), they are written for the Forte Piano, and can therefor not be counted as piano works.

[gerryjay]

Dude... come on, you know what he meant. Almost every pianist plays Bach on a piano, during auditions etc.

hi, pianisten, again...

perhaps you should try to understand before writing. my point is the emphasis on SOLO PIANO (referring to bach's works), because this notion is misleading in a discussion.

if you simple don't like me, express yourself in the "anything but piano" section, please. 

best!