Bach Prelude and Fugue in Fm

[can]

I'm now 12 years old and preparing for a competition. This is one of the must pieces. I'm looking forward to your comments and suggestions. Thank you.

[can]

I really need suggestions and criticisms to advance my playing for the competition. Thank you.

[furtwaengler]

Very nice work, can. I took a peak at your astounding Moszkowski Etude op. 72 no. 2 G minor which you brought off with great flare...its amazing how we can play pieces like the Moszkowski or other similar technical shows, but Bach never fails to bring us to our knees. There's something humbling about Bach. It think then of this as a greater challenge to overcome, and you do quite well.

You've made clear and consistent choices in articulation, but still there seems to be an unfinished quality...in the prelude this could be more attention the ends of certain patterns, such as the 16ths of measures 6-9, 16-20, and the like. I also wonder if you are caught deciding how much pedal to use even though your pedaling is consistent...as if you want less pedal. If you can manage the sixths, I'd not pedal the opening, short on the upbeat, slur on the downbeat with a firm bass line (but this is individual, and your choices are fine). I'd also want established a more singing tone across ties in all voices (this goes for the prelude and the fugue), emphasizing the tension of suspensions. I notice in the left hand, measure 57 of the prelude my Bärenreiter urtext has a B-flat rather than a C on the first beat.

The fugue is so difficult, and you play it with a lot of energy, but it seems all to much the same, a constant mf. There is a lot of contrast you can exploit, in key, in color, etc. (btw, I love your sustained notes in the right hand, the tied A-flat measures 17-18, the G 19-20...great! I also love your choice of legato on the falling diminished line measures 42-43...a brilliant effect!) The building tension of the rising diminished progression of the bass subject measure 62 and following can be much more dramatic. This fugue, again, is so difficult, and you've almost got it. Watch the sixteenth notes of the subject when it's in the left hand and all is busy, such as in measure 51...sometimes the clarity of those could notes gets lost.

All in all you are a very impressive young pianist and you're doing excellent work. Keep plugging along, and if you do not already I recommend slow practice with a little mental exploration. Given some space it will all come together and you'll be secure. Best of luck to you! 

Dave

[can]

thank you very much dave,

your suggestions are very important for me. Now I must think and study a bit to prepare a new interpretation. Then I will post it again. I will also send my other pieces for the competition. They are;
 
Moszkowski G minor etude
Rachmaninoff C Sharp minor prelude together with Bach will be for selection.

And if I am selected for the final I will play

Beethoven Op. 13 Sonata Mv. 1 (pathetique)
Chopin Nocturne in C Sharp Minor
and finally a very difficult piece (at least for me)
Adnan Saygun Etude No 1 on Aksak Rhythms.

By the way, I think I made a mistake on measure 57 of the prelude.

Again, thank you for your kind words and suggestions..