Opinions on playing single movements, prelude without the fugue etc.

[opus10no2]

Example -
I love the WTC, but studying a fugue takes much more time than studying a prelude.
How acceptable would you find a cd or concert in which the performer plays just the preludes? and what about isolated movements of sonatas?

[49410enrique]

i tend to side with wanting to hear them all unless you are limited by the concert cirumstances (i.e. i played in a mixed recital where students were allowed to only play a single piece so i was ony allowed to play a single sonata movement).

but if you did a themed or lecture recital, i think it might fly. i.e a survey of bach preldues and maybe some other preludes from p and fs by other composers (i.e. kapustin, shostakovich, mendelssohn, etc.).

or also same thing wtih sonata movemnts where you might do just 2nd movemnts . or only movements marked andante or something like that.

i stll think if you did a lecture recital and presented and spoke about them that would make it a little less 'formal' and prolly fly over better with folks over all.

but also at the end of the day. it's your show. play waht you want and detractor be damned.
above applied if you are doing a recital just to do one and not for some formal requirment or competition.

[asuhayda]

Example -
I love the WTC, but studying a fugue takes much more time than studying a prelude.
How acceptable would you find a cd or concert in which the performer plays just the preludes? and what about isolated movements of sonatas?

I am of the opinion that you should learn the piece in its entirety.  I do understand however, that the level of difficulty between most of the Preludes and their related Fugues is pretty dramatic.  Whatever you do.. don't start with BWV 848!    This piece has a 6 page fugue!! It SUCKS!  But it's a cool piece.

No.2 is C minro is a good one.

Conversely, I think playing single movements of Sonatas is acceptable.

Good Luck!

[49410enrique]

I am of the opinion that you should learn the piece in its entirety.  I do understand however, that the level of difficulty between most of the Preludes and their related Fugues is pretty dramatic.  Whatever you do.. don't start with BWV 848!    This piece has a 6 page fugue!! It SUCKS!  But it's a cool piece.

No.2 is C minro is a good one.

Conversely, I think playing single movements of Sonatas is acceptable.

Good Luck!

how many voices is that 6 page fugue? ( just read your post and have not pulled any musicology or theory info on it). i would much rather play a 6 page 3 voice fugue than a 3 page 6 voice fugue!

i think there's a 5 voice fugue in wtc i is there not? which one?

[mikeowski]

i think there's a 5 voice fugue in wtc i is there not? which one?

No. 4 and 22

[49410enrique]

No. 4 and 22

sweet. thanks!

[j_menz]

Example -
I love the WTC, but studying a fugue takes much more time than studying a prelude.
How acceptable would you find a cd or concert in which the performer plays just the preludes? and what about isolated movements of sonatas?

I think it's like having dinner and skipping straight to dessert.