bach prelude and fuge c minor test recording

[noambenhamou]

Hello everyone.

I decided to get opinions before I make a youtube video so I recorded this, some mistakes obviously I will play better for a youtube video.

Just before I go through the trouble of making a video I would like to hear if this is ready.

Been working on it for almost a month.
I thought it was close but after hearing this recording, oh man!!! Like thinking about quitting and going back to race motorcycles or maybe pick up knitting or sewing.
I'm having one of those super self critical days. More than usual probably because of that damn Rachmaninoff!

Man, what would it take for me to stay in tempo? Usually I play better than this, but today I just cannot focus. I'm too angry hahaha

https://app.box.com/s/08trgpl6qogjhha63qa3

[hebafer]

Hi Noam!

I really liked your way of playing this prelude & fugue, I am working on it and I think we can change some points of view  

First I found really well the way you played the prelude, the tempo is really nice and I liked how you remark the 1st note of each bar. The volumen is excellent, something really important because preludes and fugues from WTC are not concert pieces, but in my opinion I think that the use of pedal to remark the 1st note each 8 semiquavers its not necessary because there is a lot of notes and can mess the global purpose (a simple introduction to the fugue). I think it would be better if you just remark it.

In bars 25, 26, 27 I would play more dynamical, increasing and decreasing the intensity of the sound. I think its not necessary to play slowly in bar 27 to make a contrast with the next section of the prelude.

I think is very important to play faster and louder when you start the presto in bar 28. It's other character in the prelude and is important to make feel something new that it were not before.
It's like a storm of fury that find peace in bar 34 so dont be afraid of taking (a little) relax in this seventh chord (a feature dissonance of Bach that I love).
The end its really cool and I liked a lot how you conduct the end to the picardy third, is like an eternal relax from all the notes we had before.  

About the fugue, I liked in general but I miss sometimes the marcato of the subject. Particulary at the end of bar 7 and 8. I know that the articulation of the subject is hard in bars 15, 16 and 17 but can sound a bit disconnected from the beggining. I think that remark the two steps and the skip of the subject in all the countersubjects is essential. Also It's important to remark the subject in the canon that appears in bar 23.
The end of the fugue is perfect but I would play the octave in bar 29 with more weight (not louder) not to miss it in the 3rd pichardy that appears at the end.

I enjoyed a lot listening and I hope to read what you think about these piece!! Bach is another universe and I would like to know what you think  

Please, excuse my english (I'm still learning it).

Best regards, hebafer.

[awesom_o]

Well-played, Noam!

Some nice work here. Overall, I preferred the Prelude. I found the Fugue to be a little lacking in charm somehow. I know it's a pretty serious-sounding Fugue.... but in a way, I think that means it it really has to sound seriously charming!

Just watch that the quality of sound in the more challenging portions of the Fugue always remains lyrical. Sometimes the quality of sound was a bit aggressive.

Have you ever played Baroque music on a good harpsichord?

If you haven't, I highly recommend you make an effort to do so!