BWV 825 - Prelude

[mikeowski]

Since the first one was well received, here's the second recording from my concert, the prelude from Bach's Partita no. 1. Aside from some of the trills (again, the damn trills ) I think it turned out very well. I played the Allemande too, but made too many mistakes in it, so I'll only upload the Prelude.
Enjoy.

[awesom_o]

Again, Bravo!

Just like in your Beethoven, I love how your crisp articulation actually enhances the lyricism and legato of this beautiful prelude. Your left hand sings fully and consciously-not an easy feat for pianists to accomplish in Bach's music!

The execution of the ornaments was unfortunately sloppy in a few places, but it sounds to me as if you know just how they should sound, but the signals your brain is sending to your fingers aren't quite cutting the mustard. A few of them sounded great-you know which ones.

Well done! I'd love to hear the rest of this partita some day! Have you heard Murray Perahia's recording?

[mikeowski]

Thank you, again.
I listened to it now, and I think it's a great version of the Partita, especially the Courante, with his very nice staccato touch, where I kept my interest until the end, and didn't lose it immediatly when the second page started, like with so many other renditions. It is a great version, and I think I like it at least as much as the Gould version. Thanks for the suggestion.

You'll probably have to wait a little for the whole partita, as I already have my work cut out for me until *May (my next concert). Maybe I can squeeze in the courante and the get the whole thing done for the concert after this one. At least I'd love to, after all the 1st movements I've already played.

[yukonbro]

Your playing is very good, although I have to say that I prefer a warmer, more legato sound with this piece, but that is only my preference (perhaps because I am used to Rosalyn Turecks recording of this, which you must listen to if your learning this). Aside from interpretation, technically you are almost there. The trills need some work, as you know, and there were some transitions in the middle that were not so smooth. This is a difficult piece to play well, however, you are close to pulling it off.

[mikeowski]

Thanks for your comment. I'm sure (and I hope) I'll be able to play the trills better next time, as part of the whole partita.

About the Tureck version however, I must strongly disagree. This is just my opinion and I really mean no offense, but this is by far the worst professional, or any, version I have heard of this piece. The left hand at the beginning (and in general often the weaker voice throughout) is barely audible, sometimes vanishes completely, and has no direction, it is just notes played in succession (sometimes not even that with the missing/inaudible notes inbetween). And the way she plays the trills is very irritating to me. I feel that at least a short stop should be played on the 16th note after the trill, I circled them here:

otherwise the feeling for the note durations is lost, and Bach would have written it differently if he wanted it to be played the way she does.
Another thing that bugs me is the tempo. I find it too slow and it adds to the overall boringness of her rendition. Also at places it feels sloppy and uneven.
I also listened to the other movements of the partita and although this is not what this topic is about, I just have to say: except for the gigue, it is absolutely horrendous.
I never liked the way Tureck plays Bach, because I feel her style of playing somehow sucks all the life out of the music, and this is no different.

Sorry that I react so emotionally to this performance, but I mean, I made a midi version of the prelude in musescore which sounds better than hers, and I feel for someone who is famous for their Bach playing this is just not acceptable.

Just to be sure we're talking about the same version, this is the one I listened to:

[perfect_pitch]

About the Tureck version however, I must strongly disagree. This is just my opinion and I really mean no offense, but this is by far the worst professional, or any, version I have heard of this piece.

Sadly enough, I also have to agree with Mikeowski on this. I've heard Rosalyn Tureck playing the entire Partita, and I listened to it, to a great deal because I was learning the piece and wanted to hear different pianists interpretations of it.

Her tempi are so dull and almost crawl, instead of being full of life and move with great flow.

[yukonbro]

Its quite interesting how much controversy surrounds her playing. It seems like most people either love her or hate her. I personally prefer her playing over everyone else. Her playing in this partita, and with almost all of her recordings, is much more introverted and controlled than most, which probably gives off the impression that it is dull or lifeless or slow. It certainly can be slow, but I find it has an inner exuberance and life that is so meaningful. She allows for certain melodies and nuances to come out. I think you are wrong to say she sometimes sounds sloppy. I think her playing is the exact opposite. To me she sounds as if she knows exactly what she is doing at all times, and plays with such incredible conviction. Her playing has a mix of raw emotion and perfect control that I hear in the essence of Bachs compositions themselves. It is very internal, and I think you shouldn't dismiss her so quickly, give her some serious listening because you are missing out if you don't.

[perfect_pitch]

Ok... I'll meet you half way Yukonbro. Her playing generally isn't sloppy in this Partita... however that's because it's so slow, it's practically impossible to make it sloppy. In her first partita there is no conviction and emotion and it literally crawls at tempo far slower than most pianists. Her Allemande and Courante are just BORING and without real fluency.

Believe me - I listened to her very thoroughly. The only thing I missed out on was 23 minutes of my LIFE!!!

[yukonbro]

Yes, it is very slow, but that does not make it easier to play, in fact playing something well at a slow tempo is often harder than playing something at a fast tempo (especially with Bach).

[perfect_pitch]

Yes, it is very slow, but that does not make it easier to play, in fact playing something well at a slow tempo is often harder than playing something at a fast tempo (especially with Bach).

Yeah, but play it too slow and it's boring!