hesitating the first beat, a baroque technique?

[link0126]

When I listen to harpsichord or clavichord music, specifically, Joseph Payne playing Bach etc. It sounds like there is an occassional late down beat. To me, who is new to it, or someone not used to this music, it kind of sound like a mistake or like they almost forgot what was coming next. It's like a slight hesitation. I've heard this on other renditions of clavichord music on Youtube etc... I'm not making this up right? Is this a technique of baroque music or something?

[j_menz]

Not that I'm aware of.

[Derek]

I think it might be actually. Check this out:

I haven't read much on the subject; all I know is the way this man plays baroque sounds better than "on the dot" perfection as most modern pianists play baroque. It sounds like it has that delay you describe, often.

[krajcher]

I'd rather normal playing on harpsichord.

[nystul]

Maybe it's a form of agogic accent?  Harpsichord and organ players mess with how long they hold the note or slight change in timings to create emphasis on certain notes.

[link0126]

Maybe it's a form of agogic accent?  Harpsichord and organ players mess with how long they hold the note or slight change in timings to create emphasis on certain notes.

hmmm... yeah could be. With that method do you hold the note before the one you want to accent longer? or the accented note longer? b/c it seems to me that the first beat is slightly delayed meaning they are holding the notes before that beat slightly longer.