Bach Prelude no 15 Book 1

[starstruck5]

So why does every pro pianist play this much too fast?  Glenn Gould approaches Presto I think, which totally spoils the melody which begins in bar 11.

I can't find one decent performance of this prelude. I think virtuosos let their uber techniques dominate their thinking sometimes. They just want to show off. 

It just maybe I am out on my own with wanting the piece to be played more slowly - but I really really hate the way this prelude is played. The quick tempo just renders the piece a jumble of meaningless notes for me.

I prefer playing it more slowly anyhow - don't care about convention in this one.

[worov]

For the moment, the slowest I have found is Tatiana Nikolayeva's recording.

And you can't say it is slow. But it's still less faster than Richter, Gould or Feinberg.

When you write slow, what do you mean ? Andante ? Adagio ? Largo ?

[bachbrahmsschubert]

While you're certainly entitled to your own opinion, the sequential writing of the prelude calls for a quick tempo.  Too slow and everything is drawn out and exaggerated which is the exact opposite, I think, of what the music calls for.

[starstruck5]

For the moment, the slowest I have found is Tatiana Nikolayeva's recording.

And you can't say it is slow. But it's still less faster than Richter, Gould or Feinberg.

When you write slow, what do you mean ? Andante ? Adagio ? Largo ?

Her tempo is exactly right!  Lively yes, but not so fast the piece loses its coherence and dare I say beauty.