Prelude and Fugue WTC C Minor

[pianogirl4christ]

Hey guys!
I'm in the process of learning Bach's Prelude and Fugue in C Minor.
I have the notes down in the Prelude, I just need help getting it up to speed with my hands together. My fingers don't feel together a lot of times (between L and R hands) and I was wondering if there's any method of practicing that would help improve that.
Also, with the fugue are there any good ways to practice it? Hands together or apart? Any exercises I could do beforehand?
Thanks!!

[pianisten1989]

Welcome to pianostreet! We're in a bit of low moment here, atm, but it will probably get better soon!

You mean from book 1, right? You can try to practise it like playing the "middle voice" twice - c   Eb-d-eb-d-eb-d-eb.... and make sure that they are together. Therefore you need to play it slowly. But don't slowly without any tonal control, that wont help. Play it like if that was the right tempo. I practised them also as triplets. It's quite tricky, but it helped me.

The fugue should not only be hands separated, but also each voice separated. Start with the top voice, until you know it. Then you add the alto, and learn that one as well. Then you should play them together, but with 2 hands. You should also sing the voices (one at them time, obviously). Then you play the lowest voice with the top, then with the second. Then hands separate, and then hands together.


Or that's how I do it, and it works fine for me.

[brogers70]

Bernhard suggested that you actually copy out the score of Bach fugues, separating the voices onto different lines, and then adding the fingering for each note that you would use when you ultimately played hands together. So as pianesten1989 said you practice each voice separately, using the same fingering you'll ultimately use when you put it all together. I thought that the whole writing it out business was a waste of time, but I tried it on the Prelude to the Bb Partita, which is basically a three part invention, and it really helped me hear and bring out individual lines. I will definitely write out any Bach piece with more than three voices as individual lines in the future, it really seems to work.

[bachbrahmsschubert]

I'm going to assume you mean the P & F from Book 1 - The prelude will come naturally with slow practice. It's also important to remember that you should not practice Bach with pedal. First learn the notes, then if you wish to add color to the piece, use it at your discretion. Too often I hear muddled notes with this prelude and it really bothers me. It requires a crisp, light touch. And, with this prelude especially, pay very careful attention to both hands (which I guess goes for every piece in existence written for piano).

Regarding the fugue, do as the previous two suggested. Hands separate with Bach's fugues (excluding those that are 2 voices) is a waste of time and will slow the learning process. Voices separate is what is important, as then you will hear the nuances of each voice. This is extremely important and something you must do. I would also recommend writing out each voice on separate manuscript paper, as that can help with the memorization process and proper note durations between the voices (something some individuals like to hide with the pedal).

Best wishes,

[pianoplayjl]

For the prelude you can do rhythm practice and slow practice. lots.
for the fugue, maybe you can dissect the voices and play them individually. Bring out the subject and the imitative notes in the soprano. Make the bass sound rich.