Bach's XVI Fugue,WTK1 (g-minor)

[chopin_girl]

This fugue is going to kill me.
No, really. It's slowly taking me.
I hate it!
But I have to do it because there's a competition in the near future, and it's smiling at me, but it'll start to cry when it hears my fugue.
Unlike the prelude, the wonderful prelude, it's horrible! I'm going crazy! I've been practicing for over an hour, trying to understand, to memorize, to ANYTHING; but nooo- it won't let me.
This is such a confusing thread. No wonder. I'm sitting here and crying for 15 minutes and I can't get a grip.
I hate Bach. I officially hate Bach. He was one of my fav composers. But now- I HATE HIM.
Any advice on this fugue is more then welcome, otherwise...
Chopin_girl will be a beloved member of this forum who has passed away 

Thanks in advance.
~~~chopin_girl

[musicsdarkangel]

haha I understand your emotions right now, I had the same dilemma with the C sharp major no 3 prelude and fugue.

I had a compitition, and had to prepare it in one month.  Just remember to listen to recordings of it over and over, practice voices separately. 

Let each voice speak, let the hands mingle with eachother, be light, then you have a shot at winning the compitition. 

[chopin_girl]

thanks.
that's exactly what my professor said.
i just don't get it. It's not that I don't GET IT as in I don't understand, it's just that I know what I should do I just can't do it.
Yes, I know. I'm a confusing person.

[etudes]

practice voices separately until u know each voice maybe try to analize it and cut them in to a section mark for a motif and try practise voices seperately and then try to practise only motif (use hands as it written) and practise bridge(what ever u call)the section between motif
and after all in your head u can blend 2 voice together in each way and then u will be able to play as it written

[bravuraoctaves]

• I have almost always practiced hands together, all voices.
• Practice at 1/4 tempo, but once in a while play it full tempo.  It is important that you relax. Make sure you listen to every voice as you play it and make sure every one of them sings. The most important part is relaxation of the mind and shoulders. As you practice remember to get slower and slower.
• I almost guarantee that after the third entry of the theme you will be rushing.  Don't do that. Slow down.
• There are parts which are very confusing.  When parts move from right hand to left make sure you connect all the bits.
• But if you go away from the computer having only learned one thing, it is, to relax. To relax you must practice slowly and make sure you are completely relaxed. If you are stuck, I recommend practicing the problematc bars at 1/8 speed or even 1/16 or 1/32 speed.
• I recommend listening to https://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~tas3/wtc/i16.html#movie

[eugene_oneg]

chopin_girl,

Here is my two cents. This worked for me for many fugues. You might be surprised how fast you will learn the fugue. You must first sing along with each voice. The important thing is to focus on your singing not piano playing. Your voice must lead your piano playing not the reverse. Do not underestimate that part! plus it is fun! then start playing two voices and choose one of the two to sing. The part that you sing must only be played on the piano for support for you voice. The goal is two sing one voice and play only one but different one. Practice the whole fugue that way. Once you can play the fugue without singing, you are not done. You must still pratice singing one voice along. It sounds like a lot of work I know but in fact it is not. really.. plus you will be able to sing like glenn gould to the amazement of the jury..  

[chopin_girl]

Thanks everyone, especially eugene-onegin
That's a nice piece of advice. I'll be sure to try it.
Hey-nothing else has worked. This is my last hope
Off to sing, then!
Thanks to everybody again, and,,,,ah-ofcourse.a special thanks to the person who posted a link with the recording. bravuraoctaves, was it?

~~~chopin_girl