JS Bach Club-who gets their piano vegetables in regularly

[49410enrique]

just some silly repertoire fun.

 I've always felt that JS Bach is the yummy good for you produce of the keyboard.  Just like you'd probably want to try and regularly eat your veggies becuase they're so good for you, and sometimes you'll like veggies, sometimes not but you still get them. that sorta deal.

just wanted to start a role call, who's actively wroking/studying some Bach, who makes it a point to regularly read and play it?

post with what's on your your plate right now, commentary on why and what you are trying to improve, etc are welcome too.

[49410enrique]

me right now i'm in the:
No.9 in F-, BWV795 (from my guide)

 J.S. Bach composed his 15 Three-Part Inventions (he actually called them sinfonias) for keyboard at the same time as their 15 two-part counterparts. They first appear along with the Two-Part Inventions in the 1722 Clavier-Büchlein for Wilhelm Friedemann, Bach's then pre-teen son, and then reappear, slightly revised, in an 1723 volume which Bach prefaces with a detailed description of the 30 pieces' instructional purpose. (An excerpt: "to play cleanly in two voices...[and] deal correctly with three obbligato voices...but, above all else, to acquire a true cantabile style of playing, and, with it, to get a good foretaste of the art of composition.") And instructional these sinfonias are: many is the young piano student who, riding high and triumphant after conquering the Two-Part Inventions, has discovered by moving on to the Three-Part Sinfonias just how truly difficult is the task of mastering that true and beautiful "cantabile style"—and, furthermore and fully in realization of Bach's purpose, as studies in counterpoint, miniature form, and efficient motivic invention they are without equal.

The Three-Part Sinfonias' value, however, like the value of the Two-Part Inventions, goes well beyond simple pedagogy; for, like the Art of the Fugue or the Well-Tempered Clavier, both of which are also superficially instructional in nature, the Sinfonia is as wonderful, beautiful and, frankly, difficult to the expert as it is to the student—and there are not many exercise-books that can claim such.

The 15 sinfonias follow the same order of keys as the 15 inventions (an order similar in kind to that used in the Well-Tempered Clavier, though of course in the WTC there are more keys to explore). Fugal procedure is used very frequently throughout the sinfonias (the most striking case is No. 9 in F minor, a true triple fugue!), and even in the cases where the music unfolds in freer fashion, the opening gesture is invariably one of imitation between the top two voices. Bach chose to limit himself to two pages when composing the inventions and sinfonias so that the student would not need to turn pages, and so the pieces are all on the short side; but they are wealthy miniatures indeed.

[davidjosepha]

I'm working on Prelude & Fugue No. 17 from WTC Book 1

It's so much harder than I would've thought just by looking at it. Lots of romantic music is much more visibly complex, looks harder, sounds harder, but dammit, I don't think I've played anything that is harder than this. Maybe I'll go take a break and play a couple transcendental etudes when I'm done

Mainly, I'm trying to improve my finger agility, I guess you'd call it. I'm not great at scale-like passages, and so I've been working on scales, obviously, and Bach. I don't feel like I'm getting any better, but thinking back, I realize it has helped a lot.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

 I've always felt that JS Bach is the yummy good for you produce of the keyboard.  Just like you'd probably want to try and regularly eat your veggies becuase they're so good for you, and sometimes you'll like veggies, sometimes not but you still get them. that sorta deal.

You have made me...  VERY angry...

No but yeah, I started Bach week today.  It was torture!!!  Torture I tell you!!!

I just worked on the fugue in Ab major from book 1 today.  I spent four freaking hours on it and I barely got anywhere, what the heck?!

[drkilroy]

I like the thread title, kind of reminds me of the Pickwick Club... By the way, I like the most of vegetables...

I am currently practising the Prelude and Fugue in C major from the first book of WTC and the first Contrapunctus from Die Kunst der Fuge. I am not doing it for anything in particular, I just like Bach and need some polyphonic pieces in my repertoire.

I just worked on the fugue in Ab major from book 1 today.  I spent four freaking hours on it and I barely got anywhere, what the heck?!

I think you have said that you like one of WTC Preludes and Fugues... Is it this one? Are you sure you want to start with a four voice fugue? If you are not familiar with polyphony, you might choose a two or three voice one, for start.

Best regards, Dr

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I think you have said that you like one of WTC Preludes and Fugues... Is it this one? Are you sure you want to start with a four voice fugue? If you are not familiar with polyphony, you might choose a two or three voice one, for start.

Best regards, Dr

Well I already learned it, I'm just trying to get interpretation down.  Which means keeping the use of pedal to a minimum.  Because Davidjosepha heard the fugue some parts I kinda drenched the music. 

No but yeah, I Kinda half assed learned another P&F in g minor so I at least knew what a fugue was when I attempted this.

And I'm ashamed to say it but...  I like this prelude and fugue. 

[j_menz]

And I'm ashamed to say it but...  I like this prelude and fugue. 

   Whoo Hoo!

On topic, I generally play through a bit of Bach most times I'm at the piano, either for it's own sake or as a pleasant break from whatever I'm struggling with.  I have pretty much all his solo keyboard stuff, so just pick something at random. I'm also starting to work through the Liszt transcriptions of Bach's organ works.  Kinda like Bach on steroids. I have the Busoni one's too, but am building up my courage to look inside those.

[49410enrique]

  Whoo Hoo!

On topic, I generally play through a bit of Bach most times I'm at the piano, either for it's own sake or as a pleasant break from whatever I'm struggling with.  I have pretty much all his solo keyboard stuff, so just pick something at random. I'm also starting to work through the Liszt transcriptions of Bach's organ works.  Kinda like Bach on steroids. I have the Busoni one's too, but am building up my courage to look inside those.

did you get to listen to that Max Reger transcription of the toccatta and fugue  i mentioned? i like the Kabalevsky one but man this thing is IMMENSE!
time stamped link for other folk's pleasure:

=25m24s
score to follow along
https://www.scribd.com/doc/102792125/Bach-Reger-Max-transcriptions-for-Piano-Solo-Toccata-and-Fugue-in-D-Minor-BWV-565

[j_menz]

this thing is IMMENSE!

Try the Tausig one and you may have to come up with a new superlative:

Score is on IMLSP, if you're feeling especially daring. My hands hurt just looking at the score!

[scherzo123]

Learning the BWV 847 Prelude and Fugue in C Minor from WTC Book 1. My left hand technique is pretty bad, so I need to work on that to get the prelude flowing fast...and the fugue...I used to like Bach, but after just one of his fugues, I lost some of my passion  . Everything is so confusing! I still like Bach because I can make my technique get better by studying and learning his work  .

[49410enrique]

Try the Tausig one and you may have to come up with a new superlative:

Score is on IMLSP, if you're feeling especially daring. My hands hurt just looking at the score!

oh man. that is ___________ (loss for adequate superlative)

[pianississimo]

I'm playing the Prelude No. 15 in G Major (WTC II), BWV 884.
It is simple to understand, but, of course, to play is something a bit different 
Lots of metronome practicing going on; varied rhythms; trying out different dynamic schemes; listening and comparing loads of different interpretations; trying to coordinate my fingers enough to voice the melodies, etc.
I am currently liking Andras Schiff's and Rosalyn Tureck's recordings of the prelude; the former's is beautifully graceful, while the latter's is creative in its use of terrace dynamics!
Angela Hewitt also hits the spot
The fugue is very fun to play, as well . . .
All in all, 884 is quite cheery and  optimistic!

[asuhayda]

Where do I sign up?

I am ashamed to admit that when I was young and stupid, I didn't appreciate Bach and neglected to play his music much.

Now however, I basically want to learn everything that was written by Bach.  Something just clicked.

I'm currently learning:

English Suite No. 2 in a minor
Partita No. 2 in c minor
P&F No. 2 BWV 871/872 (WTC2)

I have learned:

Complete inventions
Sinfonia 1,2,3,4,5 (but I want to learn them all)
P&F 1,2,3,5,12, BWV 870/871 (from WTC 2)

Bring it on! 

[49410enrique]

Where do I sign up?

I am ashamed to admit that when I was young and stupid, I didn't appreciate Bach and neglected to play his music much.

Now however, I basically want to learn everything that was written by Bach.  Something just clicked.

I'm currently learning:

English Suite No. 2 in a minor
Partita No. 2 in c minor
P&F No. 2 BWV 871/872 (WTC2)

I have learned:

Complete inventions
Sinfonia 1,2,3,4,5 (but I want to learn them all)
P&F 1,2,3,5,12, BWV 870/871 (from WTC 2)

Bring it on! 

right on! welcome!!

everybody welcome asuhayda  to the club 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Theory class

Teacher:  Okay!  So...  This is how it is kids.  Everything we do is based on Western 18th century music!  This means classical music!  And to be even more specific, everything we learn in this class is Based on Johann Sebastian Bach.  You will eat it!  You will sleep with it!  You will breathe it!  You will cradle it!  You will bathe in it!  You will appreciate it!  You will admire it!  And have god as my witness...

*looks over at me*

YOU WILL LOVE IT!  Got that kid?!

Me:  Sir yes sir!


*everyone's walking out of class*

Me when I get out the door:  

[/youtube]


Whispers:  Dude what the heck is wrong with that kid?  He's probably a freshman.  What a loser...

*everyone begins to throw pennies at me*

I wonder if it's too late to drop that class...

[scherzo123]

ROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAOROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[j_menz]

Theory class

Teacher:  Okay!  So...  This is how it is kids.  Everything we do is based on Western 17th century music!  This means classical music!  And to be even more specific, everything we learn in this class is Based on Johann Sebastian Bach.  

Both Classical music, and almost all of JS Bach's life and output are Eighteenth century.

And no, you can't quit now. 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Both Classical music, and almost all of JS Bach's life and output are Eighteenth century.

Whoops, my bad.  He really did say that though.

And no, you can't quit now. 

Dang it!   

*throws down hat*

[davidjosepha]

rach, I thought you were in high school. Are you? And if so, how do you have a psychology class and a music theory class and all that non-standard "math/science/english/history" stuff?

That's cray.

Edit: accidentally added a "z" to "cray"

[werq34ac]

Bach Prelude and Fugue in D minor from book 1

Seriously that prelude has given me more trouble than its worth. It's not a particularly hard RH passage but my freaking fingers keep tripping over it. Probably has to do with adapting to the various fingerings for the same pattern. (214, 215, 315, 325, 213 in various combinations)

As for the fugue, it doesn't seem too bad, though I have no idea what to do with articulation. I find that detached eighth notes sound really bad in the subject. But somehow I feel like slurring everything isn't the way to go.. (I know where my phrases go however)



Memorizing Bach. It's a freaking pain. You have to actively commit it to memory while other pieces you practice it enough that it automatically gets memorized.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

rach, I thought you were in high school. Are you? And if so, how do you have a psychology class and a music theory class and all that non-standard "math/science/english/history" stuff?

That's cray.

Edit: accidentally added a "z" to "cray"

I'm a high school student.

AP Psych is considered a history course lol.  

AP Music theory is...  I don't know.  


I took them because they're both AP classes and when you take the AP test and pass, certain colleges give you credit depending on which school it is and which grade you get.  

[davidjosepha]

I'm a high school student.

AP Psych is considered a history course lol.  

AP Music theory is...  I don't know.  


I took them because they're both AP classes and when you take the AP test and pass, certain colleges give you credit depending on which school it is and which grade you get.  

Ah, okay. I guess it must just be that my school is small enough we don't have enough students to fill an AP Psych or AP Music Theory class...my AP Physics class was like 15, my AP Chem was 6...

I didn't do well enough on AP Lit or AP US History to get out of classes in college (I sorta, uh, was stupid and completely stopped trying to pay attention or do the homework in those classes after I got accepted to college and only got a 3 on both of them...).

AP Chem, AP Physics, AP Spanish, AP Calc AB, AP Calc BC, did well on all of those, so I saved a ton of credits in college, plus I get to skip all the intro courses that are always 200% capacity.

Moral of the story? Work hard and get all 5s, if you can! It'll help you get out of the dumb intro classes in college

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Moral of the story? Work hard and get all 5s, if you can! It'll help you get out of the dumb intro classes in college

Well I'm hoping to get into a music school so it doesn't really matter.  Aside from getting college credits just in case, the main reason why I take advanced courses is because I like them despite the fact that I don't do well in all of them.


I know, people are gonna be like, 'dude why don't you minor in music or something!  You can't get a living off of that!  Go to school for a real major!  Don't go to a music school, go to a REAL university where you can actually get a job!  You don't stand a chance in the music world' etc etc...


Yeah well, I would rather pursue a career in what I love doing or die trying.  

[davidjosepha]

Yeah well, I would rather pursue a career in what I love doing or die trying.  

No biggie, I understand. I was thinking about it for a while too. But I decided I'd rather have a comfortable income and do piano on the side than struggle to do it for a living and not make as much. I'll probably live to regret it, but who knows?

[49410enrique]

... It'll help you get out of the dumb intro classes in college

i agree. those classes can be a nighmare just to grind through. boring. but they can be full of cute chicks (but they sort of ruin it when they open their mouths and actually try to talk)

[davidjosepha]

i agree. those classes can be a nighmare just to grind through. boring. but they can be full of cute chicks (but they sort of ruin it when they open their mouths and actually try to talk)

hahahaha yeh, I only take girls who have made it through to organic chem. Very picky, over here