VIDEO: J.S. Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV565

[alexjr1543]

Please excuse the suboptimal quality. I recorded this on my phone.

This was recorded at my university. I don't know the exact model of the piano, but it is made by Pearl River. At a few points, I used the left pedal to imitate changes in registration, but the left pedal on this piano is very squeaky, so this will be audible in the video.

I would appreciate all feedback as to how I played, what I could improve, and what you think of this interpretation.

I am aware that I made quite a few mistakes. I definitely should have practiced more. I have not been able to get a flawless recording as of yet.

[distantfieldrelative]

You play very nicely. It sounds very sincere. The toccata had a nice temper but I am afraid it was turned into comedic fodder by that pedal. If only Victor had thought of that...
The fugue was good even with its flaws. What recording is perfect? The ones that are lies. Art is about truth so it stands to reason that flawless recordings should be avoided by artists. Unless of course you are perfect. Please listen to Cziffras recording of this if you have not already. There may be some ideas that have not yet occurred to you that may be helpful.

How exactly did you go about transcribing the piece?

[alexjr1543]

You play very nicely. It sounds very sincere. The toccata had a nice temper but I am afraid it was turned into comedic fodder by that pedal. If only Victor had thought of that...
The fugue was good even with its flaws. What recording is perfect? The ones that are lies. Art is about truth so it stands to reason that flawless recordings should be avoided by artists. Unless of course you are perfect. Please listen to Cziffras recording of this if you have not already. There may be some ideas that have not yet occurred to you that may be helpful.

How exactly did you go about transcribing the piece?

Basically, I just read from the organ score. In those parts where the organist would use the pedals, I would play the pedal parts in octaves with my left hand while playing both the left and right hand parts with my right hand. I have rather large hands, but even then, some of the chords are too big, so I have to eliminate some notes or condense them. I've listened to other transcriptions, and I generally didn't like them too much, with their fast running passages, extra notes, and excessive pedaling (ironically), turning it into a completely different piece. Cziffra's recording is certainly interesting, and has given me some ideas, though it definitely has those qualities I don't really like.

I appreciate your feedback, and I am interested to know what about the pedaling in the toccata you didn't like and how I could have done better. I personally thought it was minimally invasive. Thank you for telling me otherwise. And who is Victor? Are you talking about Victor Borge?

Flawless was probably the wrong word to use in this situation. By that word, I meant with no mistakes. I decided not to re-upload it until I have managed to record myself without all the slip-ups I have made here.

Once again, thank you for your feedback

[distantfieldrelative]

I did mean Victor Borge. I think you read into the pedaling comment too much.
I simply meant that the squeaky soft pedal stripped the seriousness away from the passages that plagued it. I may be alone in that opinion... pardon my terrible sense of humor.  

About the transcribing work. I don't personally think that playing the foot manual part in octaves is enough. The art of transcribing is nearly as difficult as composing itself and in some small ways is composing itself.

Because of the fact that you are playing this on a piano and not on an organ, the piece will not be the same. Some passages will need to be changed in order to fit the instrument and/or the performer. While I did not notice a decline in quality with the transcription I would suggest that you take some time to carefully transcribe it to piano so that you can create nearly the same effect that this piece has in its original form.

As you have already noticed, some of the chords are simply too large and awkward to play. So changing or at least moving some of the notes (e.g note value) will be permissible.

As in the above case, a lot has been changed but all for the good of the end result. Sadly the piano is not the Instrumental Emperor; the organ is, and the piano sometimes needs a boost  to gain the same effect as the organ. E.g. Even a concert grand will not be able to compete with a massive pipe organ in a concert hall, but a generous amount of pedal may help. 

Just my opinion. Best.
 

[alexjr1543]

Don't worry about it. I somehow didn't know you meant the squeaky left pedal. Yes, I agree that the squeakiness detracts from it. It's a fairly nice piano, apart from that annoying problem. Now that I think about it, that does sound like something Borge would do.

I actually would like to learn to play the organ at some point. Unfortunately, I know of no one nearby who would be willing to teach me, or an organ I could use.

Your comments are much appreciated.

[distantfieldrelative]

If you find the nearest "church" most of them are kind enough to allow use of their organ; if they have one. The presiding organist may even help you.

[birba]

That was interesting to listen to.  You do play it like you were at an organ.  In fact, your "fermate" are a bit too long as well as some of the ritardando.  Too long for a piano, i mean.  And while some of the runs sounded a bit odd at first with a beginning slow and speeding up,  I realized that this is what you usually hear on the organ.  You know this piece well.  Tausig has an excellent transcription of this.  straightforward with very little embellishment.  But yours works too, if you clean it up, that is.  I swear at times, I could hear the reed sections in your playing!

[kalospiano]

just a couple of mistakes, otherwise really excellent playing, congrats

[alexjr1543]

Here is a more polished version. Couple of minor slip-ups here and there, but much more polished than what I originally posted. Recorded on the same phone as the last one, but this time using the front facing camera.

This was recorded in a different room in the same building, which is why there is much more reverb here. Even though it makes the recording sound a bit muddy, I think it adds something to the piece; do you?

The piano here is a Steinway. This one does not have the same problem as the other piano with the squeaky left pedal, but it definitely needs to be tuned.

Again, all feedback is appreciated. Thank you to those who commented before.

[emill]

I always thought that Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor was composed exclusively for and to be played in a pipe organ.  Now I must rethink that ...  BRAVO ! ! !