Bach Prelude No.22 in B♭ minor, BWV 891, Wohltemperierte klavier II

[zeusje]

Hi again,

This is another piece I finished with my teacher. I had some trouble often with the tempo while studying, in the sense I got hasty and sped up the tempo, but in this recording I think that is not a problem anymore. Hope you enjoy.

[ramseytheii]

I think it's very nice.  I think it is too fast, and I often think that about Bach performances these days.  If you listen to Wanda Landowska, she takes daring tempos, that nobody today has the courage to try.  But every note speaks, and every shape is audible and visible. 

I think with your tempo, the piece feels a little devoid of a specific character.  It reveals itself as a well-written, contrapuntal prelude, but what is it saying really?  However a slower tempo, would reveal the character in the motives, I believe, a wistful downward motion like a graceful bow at the beginning of a dance; the repeated notes like two steps to the left, two steps to the right.

Yes - there it is.  It doesn't dance.  That's what it needs.  More character in the rhythm; right now the articulation feels all a little self-conscious and awkward.  But more than that, the tempo doesn't breathe.

Walter Ramsey

[jaggens]

Hi Zeusje,

Nice recording. The music flows.

Bach rhythm and flow can be quite static and there is always a question how to listen out every note without being too rubato.

So i think the sound between depressing keys needs a bit more attention. I feel a slight rushing over the notes.

Also the melody characters can be more speaking and colorful and contrasic.

Even if the tempo is high and so on you should feel that you have lots of time and eveything is expressive.

Anyways, the recording is not bad at all, you manage to play it.

GL
Jaak

[zeusje]

Hi and thanks for the comments, I think I can understand the comments very well.

Somehow I think this still is the speed I want, my teacher also told me often that the music needs to sing a bit more. Myself I also think there is still stuff to work on here. Currently I am busy with the fugue, there as well I need to choose a tempo. What do I have in mind with this piece, I think what I like best about Bach, at least in my memory going over the times that I first started to listen to WTC, I like best all the voices that move in and out, going on and on, and just as you think that creativity is over, there again comes another voice.

Yes, good points about contrast, melody and rhythm. I need to know better for myself what it is I want to express.

Anyway, I think I hope to make another recording, with the prelude and fugue in 1, and hopefully the prelude there will also be more satisfactory for myself, though I was proud of the fact I can play it like I did, as I am an amature, and still have quite some technical stuff to learn.