midiedited WTC I online again - 3rd sample: fugue BWV 861

[Steffen Fahl]

Just a few days after I put my Musicsite online in January, I draw back my very first project the WTC I, since there was still that much inacceptable, while the WTC II seem to be in general quite well accepted in respect to hits and votings. I hope this new, a bit more diligently edited version might show what the to preview discussions already indicated, that the one who intends the music decides if something is music and not the technical means he is using. I know this migh be still provocating for one or another here. And I respect their certain opinion, but maybe there might also be some who listen to the music and are able to judge it as music without any other prejudices. Thats why I still am quite interested in any comment concerning the musical substances of the Interpretation.
You will find the whole WTC here

[birba]

Interesting.  I think this is an example where a pianist would have been able to be more precise in the ryhmic impulse.  I heard much "affrettando" in the 16th notes of the last part of the subject.  Almost always.  It just wasn't steady.  I listened to it twice to make sure I wasn't imagining it.  Also, it was top heavy in the top voice.  The theme in the other voices ALMOST always came out, but during the divertimenti, all that was really prominent was the "r.h." or top voice.

[keyboardclass]

Schweitzer recommends tying the first two notes, tenuto the third and tying 4th and 5th (with 5th shorter).  In the next bar the first 3 notes are tied as are the second.

[keyboardclass]

Once you played the subject differently!  Disturbing for an avid listener.  The gentle rise in dynamic was nice.

[Steffen Fahl]

Interesting.  I think this is an example where a pianist would have been able to be more precise in the ryhmic impulse.  I heard much "affrettando" in the 16th notes of the last part of the subject.  Almost always.  It just wasn't steady.  I listened to it twice to make sure I wasn't imagining it.  Also, it was top heavy in the top voice.  The theme in the other voices ALMOST always came out, but during the divertimenti, all that was really prominent was the "r.h." or top voice.

This is interesting for me, since a scanned score would have been mathematically precise and actually more precise any real pianist will ever have played it. I conciously decided to prefer myself playing the score, instead of scanning it. That means mathematical correctness has much more tolerance for the human intended and even unconcious aberrations from the strict mathematical precision.

The "mathematical" measure for a real played interpretation relies imho much more the overall metrical correctness of important beats of a bar than of the precision of certain details, that might much more used to mark the special musical situation in its demands. I at least understand the "Mozart-paradoxon" that he played at the same time free and emotional as if there was no tempo at all and still metric mathematical correct.

So in my opinion for the real player things become wrong played, if the relative metrical order fall apart. Especially with Bach I think I would not dare to just scan any score because pure mathematical correctness in my opinion may have an devastating effect on the music.
But if another human have the feeling something is wrong than definitly must be something wrong, since the music is made for our ears.

I personally didn't felt a disturbing aberration from the metrical order, since the last part is even sometimes played together with the first part in another voice. If the tempo would have been to fast before, it should have made an audible difference to those combinations of 8th and 16th notes. But I will think and listen again to try to understand your point (in the moment I have just a poor laptop which does not give the full impression).

Concerning the topvoice this is right but in the same time also a possibility to make a audible difference in the colour of the soprano and the alto voices in the ddivertimento which are quite near to another so it is necessesary to give them different colours to prent mingeling them up in the ears of the listener. And yes the soprano can sing quite beautiful.

After having listened very much Gould I was quite astonished about a Pogorelich-Bach-reccording, where he seem to play Bach like a Chopin-nocturne with a singing soprano making all other voices to a pure accompagniment, and it was not that musical unreasonable than i expected it would be. So even there is room for different conceptions. But dont take me wrong. I know my WTC is nothing that ingeniuos and Your hints quite interesting for me. I will listen and think over more detailed when I am back home where I have a better soundsystem than now.
best
fahl5

[birba]

I listened to it again.  I have to say I really liked the color of the voices at certain points.  Anyway, there is DEFINITELY something with the tempo that bothers me.  Like anxious and  precipitating at times.  Like a heart murmer!  That's it.  Like a little heart murmer every once in a while.

[rachfan]

Hi fahl,

I'm bringing to your attention something you might not be aware of.  On this page there are 48 slots for recordings.  At the moment you have filled 11, or 23% of them.  Does that seem a bit disproportionate to you?  You have many examples of your work on this front page already, which, by the way, forced traditional acoustic piano recordings, sanctioned by the site guidelines, prematurely off the front page.  So I guess what I'm saying is that we get it already!  Perhaps you could lighten up for awhile and perhaps, like most of us, post one of your midi realizations occasionally rather than swamping the page with them?  Just a suggestion to you, as I'm sure that like me, you're quite concerned about treating the other pianists here fairly.

David

[mistermoe]

Hi fahl,

i'll have to second what rachfan said. Not for personal reasons, but for those he mentioned.
If i may make a suggestion: why dont you put all your midi recordings in one thread (something like: "fahl's midi recordings. Getting updated!"). It would give other pianists here the chance to appear on page 1.
Most of the recordings on page 1 are either by you or that other guy you surely have met here already. I will only adress to you because, contrary to the other guy, you seem to be a serious musician who might be willing to listen to our concerns.
Don't take it personal. Although i'm not a big fan of midi recordings i start to find it quite interesting.

See you around 

[Steffen Fahl]

Hi fahl,

i'll have to second what rachfan said. Not for personal reasons, but for those he mentioned.
If i may make a suggestion: why dont you put all your midi recordings in one thread (something like: "fahl's midi recordings. Getting updated!"). It would give other pianists here the chance to appear on page 1.
Most of the recordings on page 1 are either by you or that other guy you surely have met here already. I will only adress to you because, contrary to the other guy, you seem to be a serious musician who might be willing to listen to our concerns.
Don't take it personal. Although i'm not a big fan of midi recordings i start to find it quite interesting.

See you around 

Hi rachfan, hi mistermoe,
Sorry that I posted already again two recordings, I didn't read this thread before posting them. But I promise, I will hold back for the next time to give others more room. Meanwhile It is quite easy to bring other recordings back in the first slots as you might have seen with the nancarrow tango which is already years old. So just discuss other pieces and the mine will disappeare sooner you can think about.
But of course I dont want to bother anyone with my recordings.
I just gave everyone a single thread, since I thought it have to be done in this forum and as I've said since school begins next monday there is little hope that I may produce any more pieces for the presumably some month. So dont forget me in the next time I hope I'll be back when  others have had enough chance to be listened and I have had the chance and time to produce another reasonably interesting recording. Thank for your interest.
best
fahl5