Bach: Partita c minor, I. Sinfonia

[pianovirus]

Hi all,

I recorded the first movement of the c minor Partita yesterday. Comments and criticism welcome!

-pianovirus

[seanrb]

I think this is a nice recording. The tone is appropriate for Bach, and the tempo and coordination is mostly secure. Also, the contrast between sections is clear. However, I find your theatrics a bit distracting and contrived. Can't you let your expressive playing speak for itself?

[pianovirus]

Thanks, seanrb, for listening and for your comments!

I can (well, I must  ) accept the "distracting" attribute regarding my movements or mimics when playing. But what I can say in all honesty, it's not contrived, it just happens and I can't avoid it without distracting myself. So I gave up on that aspect. But, well, it's good to be reminded from time to time, at least to try to prevent excess! 

[brogers70]

I liked it a lot. The lines were admirably clear. My only suggestion is that there were just a few points in the third section where I thought you might have breathed a bit more - it occasionally sounded rushed. But only occasionally. Really nice.

And I think that if you need to move your body around to stay loose and play the way you do, just go ahead and move expressively. Anyone who finds it distracting can always close their eyes.

[awesom_o]

I agree with other posters that there is much to be admired here in terms of clarity and lyricism.

I also agree that there was a slight tendency to rush that was noticeable from time to time.

I also agree that the facial expressions are distracting. They aren't particularly distracting for me; as brogers70 pointed out, I can simply close my eyes and listen!

I don't suggest we have to remain stock still with zero trace of any facial expression throughout an entire piece let alone an entire program. That would be both draconian and strange!

I don't see pianovirus' movement or facial expression as being contrived.
However, I do believe they have a deleterious effect on his musical concentration at the subconscious level.
When there is a high degree of extraneous movement and/or facial expression, it can suggest that the player has musical ideas or feelings which they aren't quite yet able to channel into the music itself.

[quantum]

Good work here!  Your vision of the piece was presented well, and your ideas and intentions were clear.

If there was a minor criticism, it would be that the tempo felt at times indecisive at the onset of a new section of music.  IMO it would be preferable to feel one's chosen tempo in one's mind before the onset of a tempo or sectional change, as opposed to using the first phrase to search for one's desired tempo. 

Your mannerisms did not detract or enhance my own perception of the music.  If you feel they are an integral part of your music making, I would encourage you to continue to be true to your own music and not bow to the critics. 

[cbreemer]

Hi Tobias,

Good to meet you here again ! I think this is a great performance. Clear, supple and vigorous playing. Technically there is very little to improve. Maybe you haven''t wrung the last drops
of subtlety out of this piece yet, but when is one ever ready with Bach ? And who would want to be ?

The 'mannerisms' such as there are, although I would prefer less, are not at all distracting.
Many a famous pianist makes far more of a distracting and often silly show (Lang Lang and Trifonov come to mind). Don't you worry about it. Keep up the good work !

Cheers,
Chris