Need help with bach

[kclee6337]

I'm learning wtc 1 prelude and fugue in B flat Major.

How fast should this prelude be? almost every recording I hear is almost so fast its inhumanly possible. Only one or two are at descent speeds. Almost every piano I've played isn't regulated up to par to be able to keep up with all the fast repeated notes like in the end of the prelude. And I highly doubt the early pianos and harpsicords of bachs day could keep up with such a fast playing style, so that leads me to believe it should be at a slow steady pace? maybe I'm just completely wrong and I should go really fast?

Im not saying extremely slow, about the speed like this.

My next question which is a burning question of mine, is how the articulation should be in the 8th notes in the first half of the prelude. every recording I hear plays staccato on almost every note, how ever I find it much more musical to connect the notes that move in stepwise and detach the leaps. When I played it like that for my teacher she said, "hmm thats very interesting, but its wrong."   Im pretty sure I'm right on this one.

let me know what you think and how you would play it.

[asuhayda]

Hey!  Woohoo! A Bach question..

haha.. I had to put on my Glenn Gould recording when you mentioned this P&F. 

You are absolutely correct.  The speeds at which people play this piece are inhuman.  I have Richter's recording as well as Gould's.. both of them play it extremely fast.

You probably don't need to play it quite as fast as all that.  But it's definitely quick.  You're youtube vid is definitely an acceptable tempo.  I don't think it has to be lightning fast.  You don't want to sacrifice quality for tempo anyway.

---

Also,  haha ya.. people have their opinions on how to play Bach.  My general rule is this.. if it's not a fugue, play legato.  Mind you, that's a gross oversimplification.

Here's my phliosophy on this subject.  However you play a Bach piece, keep it consistent.  That's it.  Like you've already stated, these pieces were not written for the piano as we know it today.  So, the style in which you play it is somewhat open to interpretation (with regards to articulation).

... having said that however.... I think it would be wise for you to go with what your teacher says!

Personally, I played the Prelude section with a legato RH and a fat staccato LH.

Good Luck!

[kclee6337]

lol and Im trying to do the opposite in the prelude, im doing left hand legato and right hand staccato. I will do what my teacher says, but I completely disagree with her, to me it looses some  of its musicality. imo

[asuhayda]

ahh. interesting.

I can see why you might have tempo issues then.  Could be cool though. You might be able to string a nice counter melody together with the left hand.  Haha, ya, you might get some resistance on that interpretation.

Good luck!

[j_menz]

Since you are doing this with a teacher, my advice is to learn to play it exactly as your teacher wants.  You do not have to agree with it, and you need never play it that way again when you are "done". It won't harm you.

Also, when you can play it that way, you may find your discussion about how you think it should be played will be taken more seriously.

[kclee6337]

I talked to her about it and her stance is, "if I have a legitimate reason for doing something, and I continue it throughout the piece its ok,"

but say I used this peice as an audition piece for a university, how would they want it done?

[roseamelia]

What speed is it exactly? :/