Need some feedback for Bach Minuet in Gm No.7

[senanserat]

Hello!

Well, I have been very busy lately with college (software engineering)  and all that fun (not) stuff, but seeing that I have 2 weeks of vacations I wanted to hit the piano like no one's business while I can, I have tried to maintain my albeit small repertory stable and slowly getting new pieces in.

One of those in this Minuet, while in order I should present the Polonaise No.4 first I still feel I can work on getting that one better before asking you amazing and well versed people to hear it. Also I am goings to skip the March No.5 (by Karl Philippe Bach) because I admit it didn't move me as much so I am shoving it aside for now!


As always for those that remember don't hold anything back, if you feel that cursing the day I laid my hands on the piano to record this is a suitable reviews, then please do so, as long it is constructive criticism I am more than open to bear with the full force of it. After all it is my goal to achieve the level of virtuosity I have heard from some of the members here so any pointer helps.

For this particular piece I added some little ornamentation here and there and decided to give it a little twist at the end to spice it (for good or for bad it is yet to be seem) also I tried to keep a steady rhythm because as much it pains me to admit it, rhythm is my weakest point (working on it).

Without further ramble I await with bated breath all of your critics.
Best Wishes
~SS

[awesom_o]

Not bad at all!

 

It sounds to me like the act of computing the ornaments in the moment distracts you from the overall rhythm (which is actually getting better, by the way!).

I found the timing in between repeats was a little awkward.

Make sure your tone in the RH is always lovely-there were a few spots where the sound didn't sing as beautifully as it wanted to!

I really like that you have added a little ornamentation of your own! Make sure you don't fall into the trap of playing the ornaments in the exact same places each time. It's more stylish to vary the ornamentation. Use the ornamentation to make the music more interesting, not less interesting!

I would also recommend you play the whole piece through several times, without ornamentation, but counting the beats OUT LOUD with your voice, the entire time. While doing this, think actively about the different places where ornaments could theoretically be placed.

Nothing wrong with doing the tierce at the end!

[senanserat]

Not bad at all!

 

It sounds to me like the act of computing the ornaments in the moment distracts you from the overall rhythm (which is actually getting better, by the way!).

I found the timing in between repeats was a little awkward.

Make sure your tone in the RH is always lovely-there were a few spots where the sound didn't sing as beautifully as it wanted to!

I really like that you have added a little ornamentation of your own! Make sure you don't fall into the trap of playing the ornaments in the exact same places each time. It's more stylish to vary the ornamentation. Use the ornamentation to make the music more interesting, not less interesting!

I would also recommend you play the whole piece through several times, without ornamentation, but counting the beats OUT LOUD with your voice, the entire time. While doing this, think actively about the different places where ornaments could theoretically be placed.

Nothing wrong with doing the tierce at the end!

Thanks! U'll take your advice to heart, yes I may be rushing a bit with those ornaments I do count out loud when I am alone and it has certainly helped me when using a metronome to "feel" the pulse.

My problem is that I put the... erm... "rythm awareness" in the back of mind sometimes, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that my minds wanders.

Regarding the repeats I was told the exact same thing by my mother (non musician) the score does say that I should repeat ASAP the first iteration is done but I think holding it a bit sounds way better.

Regarding the ornamentation do you mean that I shouldn't play the piece with those same variations all the time, or rather that I should use them once per playthrought? 

I am sorry if I mussed something glaring obvious in your post, english is not my main.

Thank you kindly for your feedback!

[awesom_o]

Your English seems quite good, so no worries!

Rhythm must be at the forefront of one's musical imagination at all times. This is not to say that we must play in a way that is rigid, or mechanical. But if you are not aware of the rhythm, the audience will not be aware of the rhythm, and rhythm IS important!

If you wish to have a small 'breath' in between repeats, rather than 'ASAP' that is okay! Just don't make it so long that we hear it as a big pause.

Regarding ornamentation: don't feel you 'have to' ornament the piece the same way in the same place each time! Feel free to have no ornaments the first time, and put them in on the repeats. Or, you could put the ornament in one place the first time, and then in another place on the repeat. 

Or, you could put the same ornament in both times, in the same place! But if you do that, try to find some subtle change, so that the same ornament means something slightly different the 2nd time. If we play the repeat exactly the same way as we played it the first time, there is definitely a small risk that it could sound stale.

Nuance!  Nuance is everything in piano playing!

[pianoplunker]

It was a nice listen. Being I was deliberatley trying to be critical and listen to every detail I noticed the rhythm was very tentative in a couple of places. almost like " I hope it is ok if I play this "  But all in all very nice and accomplished.   

Hello!

Well, I have been very busy lately with college (software engineering)  and all that fun (not) stuff, but seeing that I have 2 weeks of vacations I wanted to hit the piano like no one's business while I can, I have tried to maintain my albeit small repertory stable and slowly getting new pieces in.

One of those in this Minuet, while in order I should present the Polonaise No.4 first I still feel I can work on getting that one better before asking you amazing and well versed people to hear it. Also I am goings to skip the March No.5 (by Karl Philippe Bach) because I admit it didn't move me as much so I am shoving it aside for now!


As always for those that remember don't hold anything back, if you feel that cursing the day I laid my hands on the piano to record this is a suitable reviews, then please do so, as long it is constructive criticism I am more than open to bear with the full force of it. After all it is my goal to achieve the level of virtuosity I have heard from some of the members here so any pointer helps.

For this particular piece I added some little ornamentation here and there and decided to give it a little twist at the end to spice it (for good or for bad it is yet to be seem) also I tried to keep a steady rhythm because as much it pains me to admit it, rhythm is my weakest point (working on it).

Without further ramble I await with bated breath all of your critics.
Best Wishes
~SS

[pianoplunker]

Hello!

Well, I have been very busy lately with college (software engineering)  and all that fun (not) stuff, but seeing that I have 2 weeks of vacations I wanted to hit the piano like no one's business while I can, I have tried to maintain my albeit small repertory stable and slowly getting new pieces in.

One of those in this Minuet, while in order I should present the Polonaise No.4 first I still feel I can work on getting that one better before asking you amazing and well versed people to hear it. Also I am goings to skip the March No.5 (by Karl Philippe Bach) because I admit it didn't move me as much so I am shoving it aside for now!


As always for those that remember don't hold anything back, if you feel that cursing the day I laid my hands on the piano to record this is a suitable reviews, then please do so, as long it is constructive criticism I am more than open to bear with the full force of it. After all it is my goal to achieve the level of virtuosity I have heard from some of the members here so any pointer helps.

For this particular piece I added some little ornamentation here and there and decided to give it a little twist at the end to spice it (for good or for bad it is yet to be seem) also I tried to keep a steady rhythm because as much it pains me to admit it, rhythm is my weakest point (working on it).

Without further ramble I await with bated breath all of your critics.
Best Wishes
~SS

[senanserat]

It was a nice listen. Being I was deliberatley trying to be critical and listen to every detail I noticed the rhythm was very tentative in a couple of places. almost like " I hope it is ok if I play this "  But all in all very nice and accomplished.   

Thank you, I will keep working on a steady rhythm and confidence, that is why I have taken a liking to the first lessons in Bach book, it is very kind to a beginner explaining what should be the technical goal of each piece.