Bach's Chromatic Fantasy - C min :(

[--michael--]

I have never been so discouraged in my years of playing

Is this piece generally regarded as "advanced"? It's not so much that I can't play it, but that it takes SO INCREDIBLY LONG just to get a few measures down.

Any tips or encouragement would be very much welcome!

-Michael

[birba]

Are you sure it's in c minor?!  Because the chromatic fantasy's in d minor.  Have they discovered a lost manuscript?!

[--michael--]

The one I playing is the one that opens with the descending RH arpeggios, followed by prepared trills. I don't know the bach catalogue number, but its definitely in C minor.

[birba]

Oh right.  That's not the chromatic fantasy.  It's the fantasy in c minor.  A little gem.   I don't know exactly what level you are at, but it's not terribly difficult.  But I'm not a teacher, so maybe someone else can be of help.  WhathHave you learned so far?  Have you done any preludes and fugues?

[april]

Michael,
Just have patience. Practice a few measures at a time - hands alone, together - and I also have found helpful with Bach - play the sections that give you the most trouble  hands alone but do different "beat" patterns like long, short, long, short (1st note long, second note short etc). Change which notes get the emphasis - every 3rd, every 4th etc.
The theory behind this is that if you can play it in a "difficult" way, playing it correctly will become easier. This also helps with uneven playing. Don't know if I'm making sense - sorry.
Sometimes I find it just takes a while before you "get it". Bach is my favorite - and over the years I have had up and down experiences when learning his pieces. I have also had this experience when teaching his pieces!
Working on a concerto right now and I can't practice every day like I would like to. But I know I'll get there eventually.
Hang in there 

[--michael--]

Hi April! Thank you very much for your post. Your advice makes sense. Bach is also my favorite. Perhaps its just me, but his pieces take me FAR long to memorize and play properly than any other composer; but they're the most fun to play when I FINALLY get them done. I am focusing on Bach now because I would eventually like to be a harpsichordist. Have played many preludes, some fugues, and inventions.

The fingering just feels so awkward and bizarre compared to any other composer . But most peculiar is I always find the coordination WAY harder with most any Bach piece. And like I said, though I can usually memorize quickly-Bach just takes forever.

[furtwaengler]

Great piece. I recently heard an old, old recording of the Russian composer Taneyev playing it.

[kitty on the keys]

Ahhhhhhhh I love the Fantasy in C minor! You can also redristribute in sections. Let the LH taake the chords as you play the trills. Some of the 'chromatic' passages can be split up too. And yes I use pedal.....fills out the sound more since I'm playing it on the piano. I have heard this piece played at a variety of tempi, find the one that works for you. Happy Fantasy playing !


Kitty on the Keys

[april]

Hi April! Thank you very much for your post. Your advice makes sense. Bach is also my favorite. Perhaps its just me, but his pieces take me FAR long to memorize and play properly than any other composer; but they're the most fun to play when I FINALLY get them done. I am focusing on Bach now because I would eventually like to be a harpsichordist. Have played many preludes, some fugues, and inventions.

The fingering just feels so awkward and bizarre compared to any other composer . But most peculiar is I always find the coordination WAY harder with most any Bach piece. And like I said, though I can usually memorize quickly-Bach just takes forever.

I know exactly how your feel! I used to be able to memorize easily (Bach not as easily) and now I don't memorize at all. 1) I really don't have any reason to, and 2) it's become much more difficult since the car accident I had several years ago - really bad concussion
 It changed everything about how I learn pieces.
One other thing I learned from a brief stint with a different teacher is to try and play it at tempo and let your fingers just go to what comes naturally. This often ends up being the most logical fingering.
I look forward to when you post your video playing the Fantasy!