Bach - Goldberg Variations, Variation 1 (AjLongsPiano)

[ajlongspiano]

So one of my big musical projects right now is to learn the fiendishly difficult Goldberg Variations by Bach. This is my rendition of the wonderful Variation 1. You may love my playing, and you may just hate it! I do not blame you for the former because my Bach playing is very " romantic. " My whole goal is to show how much color, spontaneity, and freedom is involved in Bach's music which is so often played in a dry and pedantic manner. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

- AJ

[mjames]

AH??? Now you're tackling Bach's Goldberg?! You are one crazy (in a good way) dude. Can't listen to it right now because I have class but I'll get back to it later.

[ajlongspiano]

Haha thanks James. I'm glad you like my craziness!

[feddera]

Fantastic! Really enjoyed listening.

[ajlongspiano]

Thank you, feddera!

[brogers70]

That was beautiful, very clean, spritely. Not overly romantic in the least.

[ajlongspiano]

Thank you! I'm glad you didn't think my inflections were over the top.

[distantfieldrelative]

The only one I believe to have played this better than you is Gould.
Bravo

[ajlongspiano]

Thank you! That's an amazing compliment

[dcstudio]

"hello Clarice"



ok you are all too young to get that and it's not even the same variation...  Great job AJ nice to know you are still here.

[ajlongspiano]

"hello Clarice"



ok you are all too young to get that and it's not even the same variation...  Great job AJ nice to know you are still here.

" I ate his liver, with some fava beans and a nice chianti! "

Good to see you too, DC. I'm glad to be back

[distantfieldrelative]

So Sargent Pembry, when will the aria be posted?

[ajlongspiano]

Soon!

[mjames]

As always man, nicely done *thumbs up*

Kinda reminds me of Tatiana's interpretation, not in the sense that you're copying her but in the sense that you both give Bach a breath of fresh air!

[ajlongspiano]

Thanks James! Just listened to hers. Amazing!!!!

[chopinlover01]

Quite possibly the best playing I've heard from you. Well done! I love hearing you play new composers; listening to your Medtner next. When will you play some Beethoven?

[ajlongspiano]

Thanks chopinlover! How goes that Bach Partita?

[philolog]

I liked the ornamentation and was wondering if you planned and rehearsed it before recording. I know that ideally performers during the Baroque era were expected to spontaneously ornament the music, but in my experience, doing so in faster pieces that are so dependent on a reliable fingering for consistent execution is very difficult and can be disruptive.

Are you familiar with the Kirkpatrick edition of the Goldberg? If not I think you’ll find it a fascinating addition to your library. His rearrangements of some of the more difficult variations are quite helpful (no notes get left out), so unless you absolutely refuse to “compromise” by “taking the easy way out,” give them a try. Of course some pianists have managed to perform the entire sequence on one keyboard------have you seen Gould’s DVD of his second “take” on the piece? For myself, I play some as written and others as “facilitated.” As a result, I have them well ingrained in my hands and I’m perhaps too lazy to relearn (or attempt to relearn) the “impossible” ones.

In any case, it’s nice to know that you have more on your mind than Chopin (not that one couldn’t explore his works for a lifetime). Good luck with tackling the rest of this formidable music.

[chopinlover01]

Thanks chopinlover! How goes that Bach Partita?

Quite well; doing the Sarabande, and hopefully will finish the rest by the summer!

[dcstudio]

" I ate his liver, with some fava beans and a nice chianti! "

Good to see you too, DC. I'm glad to be back

YEAH!!!  you got it    cool. 

[ajlongspiano]

Thanks philolog! Most of those were pre-planned but sometimes I enjoy to spontaneously throw in a mordant or something. I am not familiar with that edition but I'll look into it. Currently I use Henle.

[josh93248]

It's unnecessary as I've already told AJ my opinion over skype (excellent) but I just want it to be know that "excellent" is my opinion of this Bach haha.

[ajlongspiano]

Thank you Josh! I always appreciate your support

[furtwaengler]

I await more of this. What you've shared is wonderfully spontaneous and stylistically appropriate. I love the ornamentation and note there's a lot of room to be creative, expressive, improvisational in these variations, especially if you've got something to say in the repeats.   

[pencilart3]

oh my goodness. how did I miss this

[emill]

BRAVO ! ! !
WOW!! ... you've got that Bachish touch!!

[pencilart3]

Is it on an electric piano? The extra reverb makes a very nice touch.

[georgey]

If you add 29 more variations and a couple plays of the aria on a CD, I'll be one of the first to buy it.  Great!!

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I had been disinclined to listen to this. Sacrilegiously, Bach really isn't my cup of tea 

But actually, it's very good. I don't think it's overly romantic (I would go further, and probably risk heading into cartoon territory!) It sounds like a good balance between what might be termed "classical" playing and giving the music nuance. (Actually I think good Bach playing really should have a fair amount of nuance, it's just a matter of careful judgement - I really dislike Bach played as if by woodpeckers at a typewriter.) Good clarity of ornamentation as well.