I need some Bach!

[scherzo123]

Hi! My teacher says I need some Bach, so what would you guys suggest? I like Bach pieces that are lively and happy, like the Italian Concerto my teacher mentioned.

P.S. Leave out the Inventions and Sinfonias, I know that they are great, but I'm not motivated to learn them for performances. Also, please leave out the Goldberg Variations, they're too long. Thanks!

[j_menz]

Try the French suites or the Little Preludes and Fugues. If you're advanced enough, wade into the WTC.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Hi! My teacher says I need some Bach

I am truly sorry for you.  God speed...



But to answer your question, if you're considering tackling Scriabin etudes, then you should be ready for WTC.

Try the prelude and fugue in A flat Major from book 1

[scherzo123]

But to answer your question, if you're considering tackling Scriabin etudes, then you should be ready for WTC.
[/quote/]

...I'm a bit crazy...I even considered tackling the "Heroic" Polonaise Op.53 by Chopin... But I honestly think I'm well ready for the WTC.

[davidjosepha]

Hi! My teacher says I need some Bach, so what would you guys suggest? I like Bach pieces that are lively and happy, like the Italian Concerto my teacher mentioned.

Italian Concerto is what I'd recommend! My dad played it a while ago and so I'll sometimes take out his copy and sightread it for fun. It's very beautiful. Other than that? WTC, of course!

[scherzo123]

Italian Concerto is what I'd recommend! My dad played it a while ago and so I'll sometimes take out his copy and sightread it for fun. It's very beautiful. Other than that? WTC, of course!

I'm jealous that you are learning my favorite Prokofiev piece...the Piano Sonata No.7 (3rd mvt.). At least I played Liebestraum No.3....

[davidjosepha]

I'm jealous that you are learning my favorite Prokofiev piece...the Piano Sonata No.7 (3rd mvt.). At least I played Liebestraum No.3....

Hahaha I'm glad you like the Prokofiev! My teacher told me, before I started learning it, that he thought I had the chops for it, but that everything else I have ever played in my entire life would pale in comparison to it in difficulty. So far, I've been rather disappointed (with the difficulty), although I'm sure that will change soon. I'm only a little over halfway through the piece and haven't started on the spectacular ending yet. I've also only been working on it for a couple weeks. It's a ton of fun to play though! Liebestraum is extremely beautiful and lots of fun too! Jeez, really, I think just about everything I play is fun! I guess I just like playing piano or something 

I hope you get a chance to play the Prokofiev soon. Depending on your strengths with piano, it could be anywhere from moderately difficult to extremely difficult, but so far, it seems to be worth it.

[scherzo123]

Hahaha I'm glad you like the Prokofiev! My teacher told me, before I started learning it, that he thought I had the chops for it, but that everything else I have ever played in my entire life would pale in comparison to it in difficulty. So far, I've been rather disappointed (with the difficulty), although I'm sure that will change soon. I'm only a little over halfway through the piece and haven't started on the spectacular ending yet. I've also only been working on it for a couple weeks. It's a ton of fun to play though! Liebestraum is extremely beautiful and lots of fun too! Jeez, really, I think just about everything I play is fun! I guess I just like playing piano or something 

I hope you get a chance to play the Prokofiev soon. Depending on your strengths with piano, it could be anywhere from moderately difficult to extremely difficult, but so far, it seems to be worth it.

When you finish the Prokofiev, can you please kindly tell me the main difficulties? I would appreciate it if you do. Anyway, how is it going now? 

[davidjosepha]

When you finish the Prokofiev, can you please kindly tell me the main difficulties? I would appreciate it if you do. Anyway, how is it going now? 

Sure thing, although I can probably tell you right now what the difficulties are from what I've already done. It's going well, by the way.

The hardest thing is that your hands are stretched very wide and you have to move up or down chromatically using your thumb and 2 or your 4 and 5 respectively. The piece moves much too fast for you to just use your thumb and 5 for all the changes. Also, because the piece goes very fast and you're stretching your hand about as far as it can go while repeating chords very quickly and jumping around a lot, you definitely have to practice much slower and quieter than you will perform it, firstly for accuracy, and secondly, because if you don't, your hand will either fall off, or you'll wish it would fall off.

[scherzo123]

Can we private message each other this subject please? I'm sorry, I just forgot that I posted this thread about Bach, lol. 

[elenka]

Scherzo123, what kind of Bach's pieces do you need exactly...if I'm not wrong you've already challenged with WTC preludes and fugues right?
So I don't suggest you to step back and play french suites, they are much more easier, in our programs they're ranked as grade 3 or 4, while WTC we start studying it after we've taken grade 5 exam...so maybe you can choose some allemande or courante from the french or english suites , but if you want to upgrade your skills together with scriabin's etude (I don't even dare to touch them they're definetly too difficult for me right now) you should try the Bach's Partitas they're awesome

[49410enrique]

have you played any of the toccatas?

[danielekstrom]

Try some partitas. Maybe Partita No. 2 in C minor. I'm currently working on Partita No. 6 in E minor. It's my first Bach partita and it's amazing to work on. The don't have the same Bach etude feel. It feels as if you're playing some modern or romantic work. It's very interesting and very chromatic.

[ktack]

Some very lively, bach pieces are his Prelude and Fugue in D major, B flat major, and G major from WTC book 1. Usually Gigues from Partitas and English suites are alot of fun too, but if you do just the gigue then you should probably learn the whole suite. Such as the Gigue from the B flat partita, thats very lively and so much fun to work on.

Good luck!

[scherzo123]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[drkilroy]

Bach's Capriccio in B flat major "on the departure of a beloved brother" is a very nice piece, similar in character to Italian Concerto. It is a very early Bach work.

Best regards, Dr

[asuhayda]

French Suite No. 5 (the Gigue in particular)