Bach - Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV870 (WTC II)

[andhow04]

the grand prelude and fugue from the second book.  the prelude is rather in free style, and affords a fantastical and searching style of playing.  the fugue is a lively dance that is very tricky to play as the movement is dense and compressed... i almost wonder if the fugues in the c majors are better off switched, with the more grand and dignified fugue following this prelude, and the lively dance-style fugue following the arpeggiated prelude...  in any case, here tis

the link to the C major from the first book:
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=44060.0


(27)

[williampiano]

Thank you for recording this! This is one of my favorite Prelude and Fugues from the WTC, and I thought you played it very well! The tempo was perfectly steady and the notes sounded clear, crisp and precise. You really let the music flow, and did not make it sound too rigid like some Bach performers do. I really enjoyed this! Thanks again for sharing!

[starstruck5]

I love this prelude also -it doesn't necessarily love me -but that is another story|!  You should try applying some EQ to the recording though - there is quite a lot of high frequency hiss - that can be cut , or you can try using a DE-Noiser -

Your playing as always is thoughful and immaculate.

[pianovirus]

Your playing as always is thoughful and immaculate.

Indeed! But at the same time it also appears very lively and spontaneous to me - a wonderful combination! I have to say I'm always happy when I stop by here on Pianostreet to find a new recording of you, andhow04. This, like the previous ones I listened to, is very beautiful, great piano playing. Wish I could hear you playing live one day.

[johnlewisgrant]

Listening as I reply.  Personal opinion: Bach hits us with the HARDEST prelude right at the get go. 

What a guy?

As you said--so right--this prelude is like a voyage, and you can take it slowly (Baremboin a recent take on that approach) or in a more determined manner (most other recordings). 

I don't know that there's an answer on tempo. 

But this account obviously works very well.... The listener really is prompted to think about the parts (yo... there ARE parts or "voices" even in Bach's preludes)!!!

So I give it a thumbs up!

JG

[scottmcc]

And how, I'm catching up on several of your recordings that I have missed lately, I'm back on the road again.  Anyway, this is again first rate playing.  The prelude is a truly great piece in my opinion, Bach at his finest and I think it is a work that was way ahead of its time.  I wonder about swapping the book I and II preludes, but I think that starting book II with such a daring and inventive prelude as this and then grounding it with a more conventional fugue sets the tone for the whole book, of breaking new ground while respecting old, formal structure. Anyway, great job!

[andhow04]

I love this prelude also -it doesn't necessarily love me -but that is another story|!  You should try applying some EQ to the recording though - there is quite a lot of high frequency hiss - that can be cut , or you can try using a DE-Noiser -

Your playing as always is thoughful and immaculate.

\thanks for comments, i will eventually work my way into a better sound system, now i just use a cheapo microphone that attaches and records directly onto the ipod, then use audacity.
recently i got a new microphone called meteor mic, and i am figuring out slowly how to use it optimally. it seems that it doesn't work well with audacity but with other sound programs, so i have to figure out how to use those. for the meantime i'm stuck with my cheapo thing and freeware tho!

[pianoplayjl]

I loved it and I would rather learn this one than the one from WTC 1, which I am learnign right now. I find the fugue boring to play and hardly excites me. This piece, I think it will motivate me to learn because of the tempo and liveliness. And you soooooo deserve a new and much better recording system where the recordings will have no hissing, and the sound of air, which I find often disturbs my listening experience, especially with your wonderful playings. You are making me appreciate Bach a little more.

JL

[andhow04]

I loved it and I would rather learn this one than the one from WTC 1, which I am learnign right now. I find the fugue boring to play and hardly excites me. This piece, I think it will motivate me to learn because of the tempo and liveliness. And you soooooo deserve a new and much better recording system where the recordings will have no hissing, and the sound of air, which I find often disturbs my listening experience, especially with your wonderful playings. You are making me appreciate Bach a little more.

JL

thanks for nice comments. C major from book I is very interesting, if you get into how Bach put it together and built the fugue.  C major from book II is a bit more exciting in a concert stage sense... both preludes are very beuaitufl... even when a prelude or fugue is not that interesting to me personally (like d minor book I) i find something to appreciate it in, because the writing is so purely melodic and it engages you in a highly sensitive way... hope you learn more