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Topic: Bach Prelude 24 Book 1  (Read 1290 times)

Offline anfieldstuff

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Bach Prelude 24 Book 1
on: April 11, 2015, 06:40:00 PM
Hey guys, I'm an aspiring pianist from india. I am 15 years old and would like to major in piano performance as part of dual degree program from a top music school in the U.S. such as Eastman, Peabody, NEC, Bienen or UMich..
I have an year and a half to prepare for my auditions and can practice up to 2 and a half hours a day due to academic constraints. I am also largely self taught nowadays, since I'm not able to find a teacher who can take me to the next level here.
I know there are a few mistakes, but could you please watch the video of my performance of Bach's prelude No. 24 WTC BOok 1 and give feedback, and also assess my chances at entering one of these schools? Thank you so much!

Offline faulty_damper

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Re: Bach Prelude 24 Book 1
Reply #1 on: April 11, 2015, 08:04:52 PM
What is the emotional expression of this piece?  Are you expressing it?

Legato is incredibly important for all three voices.

Is the walking base supposed to be detached?

Offline anfieldstuff

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Re: Bach Prelude 24 Book 1
Reply #2 on: April 12, 2015, 05:04:17 AM
Well, Glenn Gould plays it very detached and so does Murray Perahia to an extent. And does Bach really need to convey so much emotion?

Offline anfieldstuff

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Re: Bach Prelude 24 Book 1
Reply #3 on: April 12, 2015, 06:35:03 PM
Opinions guys?

Offline chopinlover01

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Re: Bach Prelude 24 Book 1
Reply #4 on: April 12, 2015, 08:20:48 PM
1) Well, Glenn Gould plays it very detached and so does Murray Perahia to an extent.
2) And does Bach really need to convey so much emotion?

1) Just because famous pianists do it, doesn't mean you should. Both pianists you mentioned are great players, but you should have a rough idea why you're playing it.
2) Yes.

Offline faulty_damper

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Re: Bach Prelude 24 Book 1
Reply #5 on: April 12, 2015, 09:53:08 PM
Yes, just because some famous pianist does it doesn't mean you should do it.  And for Gould, his musicianship is very questionable, and that's being very kind.  He's not someone you should imitate. Ever.

The walking bass should not be detached.  This is the cello line - would it sound like music if played alone, without the soprano and alto voices, in a detached manner?  T h a t i s v e r y a n n o y i n g . I s i t e a s y t o r e a d w i t h a l l t h e s e s p a c e s ?  P r o b a b l y n o t . I s t h i s c o n s i d e r e d a p p r o p r i a t e w r i t t e n E n g l i s h ?  S o w h y i s i t o k a y to p e r f o r m m u s i c l i k e t h a t ?

Offline diomedes

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Re: Bach Prelude 24 Book 1
Reply #6 on: April 12, 2015, 11:58:35 PM
I personally prefer the bottom line detached, and there are quite a few others that do too. It is common. I just went and made a quick check, 2nd pianist that i found was Koroliov and it's very clearly detached. I'm fairly certain Barenboim does too, there are others and this is a pointless exercise.

For OP, you probably have many things to work on, the articulation of the bass is a smaller detail. Don't get carried away with something of that nature.
Beethoven-Alkan, concerto 3
Faure barcarolle 10
Mozart-Stradal, symphony 40

Offline chopinlover01

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Re: Bach Prelude 24 Book 1
Reply #7 on: April 13, 2015, 02:09:16 AM
And for Gould, his musicianship is very questionable, and that's being very kind.  He's not someone you should imitate. Ever.
Why not?

Offline anfieldstuff

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Re: Bach Prelude 24 Book 1
Reply #8 on: April 13, 2015, 04:28:58 AM
I recorded another one with the bass line smooth and continuous. It sounds better now. Any other things I must work on in this piece? And could you assess my chances at one of those schools I mneiotned please

Offline chopinlover01

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Re: Bach Prelude 24 Book 1
Reply #9 on: April 13, 2015, 08:50:11 PM
Keeping Bach romantic is important. Post the recording and we can judge!  :D
And we can't assess that for you, since we don't know how well you play (if at all) on the level they want, which is what we would need (ie; we would need to hear you playing everything they want to hear).

Offline cometear

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Re: Bach Prelude 24 Book 1
Reply #10 on: April 26, 2015, 03:08:23 AM
Well, Glenn Gould plays it very detached and so does Murray Perahia to an extent. And does Bach really need to convey so much emotion?

Personally, Glenn Gould's Bach playing isn't my favorite. I think legato would be best on this also. I always say an equal amount of effort should be put into everything you play in regards to emotion.
Clementi, Piano Sonata in G Minor, No. 3, op. 10
W. A. Mozart, Sonata for Piano Four-Hands in F Major, K. 497
Beethoven, Piano Concerto, No. 2, op. 19
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