How hard is Bach's Well-Tampered Klavikchord?

[vladimir_gouldowsky]

Also, can you say how hard these other pesces/songs are:

- Handel Variations (Bronze variatons)
- Tchaikovsky-Goodberg Scherzo from Symphony # 6 in F minor
- Islamic Fantasy by Emily Balalaika (i.e.,: 'The Russian Clara Schumann')
- Sherbet's Christmas Oratorio 'Death in a Manger'
- Lisitsa's Sonata in be minor
- REM's Moonstipe Sonata

[musickid10]

I'm only closely familiar with Bach's WTCs I and II. They are not very difficult at all, but obviously it depends on your comfort level with baroque music and such. Good luck!

[avengeil]

Lisitsa's sonata?
   someone's been listening to a bit too much of valentina.

 The difficulty level of the WTC varies as it ranges from 3 voice fugues to 5 voice ones although technically it is not that hard. For me the biggest challenge is that of interpretation and tone color. 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Valentina Lisitsa has her own sonata?

[outin]

How hard is Bach's Well-Tampered Klavikchord? 

I haven't seen that specific instrument (and I wonder who dared to tamper with HIS), but since they were made with wood and maybe some metal, I'd say it must be pretty hard...

[thalbergmad]

If it were not for the excellent post in the Lisitsa thread, I would have though we have got another spammer on our hands.

Thal

[ahinton]

Valentina Lisitsa has her own sonata?

What? Something else that you don't know about her? Mon Dieu!

Best,

Alistair

[austinarg]

If it were not for the excellent post in the Lisitsa thread, I would have though we have got another spammer on our hands.

Thal

And if he mocks Schumann you'll surely buy him a coffee, right?

[thalbergmad]

If he mocks Schumann, he has a friend for life.

Thal

[rachmaninoff_forever]

If he mocks Schumann, he has a friend for life.

Thal

What's wrong with Schumann? 

I don't know anything by him.  Maybe like a page of his butterflies or something.

[thalbergmad]

I don't know anything by him. 

I can only advise that you keep it that way.

You would waste your talent on his empty, dull and restrained romanticism.

Thal

[sirpazhan]

[ahinton]

I can only advise that you keep it that way.

You would waste your talent on his empty, dull and restrained romanticism.

I know that I've asked this on several previous occasions, but could you please tell everyone here what it is that you have against Schumann and why? - including whether there are any exceptions in the composer's output as far as you are concerned and, again, which ones and why?

Many people here would, I'm sure, be most interested to know, especially given your involvement in Romantic music mainly (though not exclusively) from the 19th century.

Very many thanks.

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

I have explained this before and have no intention of wasting keystrokes on him. If my explanations were not to your satisfaction, you will remain unsatisfied.

I will continue to warn young pianists of the tiresome drudgery of his output.

Thal

[ianw]

Difficulty gradings for Bach's WTC cover a wide range depending on which individual piece you are talking about. The Piano Syllabus app on Google Play has the following gradings by BWV reference:

846. 8
847. 7
848. 11
849. 11
850. 7
851. 7
852. 11
853. 11
854. 8
855. 8
856. 10
857. 11
858. 10
859. 10
860. 10
861. 10
862. 10
863. 8
864. 10
865. 11
866. 7
867. 8
868. 8
870. 10
872. 10
874. 11
875. 10
876. 7
878. 10
880. 10
881. 8
882. 11
883. 11
884. 7
885. 11
886. 11
887. 11
888. 10
889. 10
890. 11
891. 11
892. 11
893. 8
 

[austinarg]

Back on topic (although I doubt that was the original intention of the OP) bernhard had posted a graded list of the WTC fugues. I only have to find it...

[pianoman53]

You should play "Variations on Beethoven's 'ba ba ba Baaaa'" written by a billion amateur musicians.

[orangesodaking]

The Hammered Klavier Tavern sonata by Lewd Wiggy Bates Hoven is the hardest of them all.