The Polonaise by Bach

[1piano4joe]

Hi all,

I read in several different sources that the Polonaise is ALWAYS accented on the 3rd beat.

There are 3 Bach Polonaises which strangely are all in the key of G minor. BWV 119, BWV 123 and BWV 125.

The BWV 119 is a RCM grade 3 Repertoire piece. I learned that one a while ago. I don't remember accenting the 3rd beat. Maybe I did but now I can hear why the YouTube ones sound better than mine. How did I miss this?

Would you agree that these 3 Bach Polonaises should all be accented on the 3rd beat?

I started learning the BWV 125 and have it around half tempo hands together. Funny thing is I'm trying NOT to play the 3rd beat so loudly but I guess it's supposed to be played that way. This one is much harder and is a RCM grade 6 Repertoire piece.

Lastly, what's with the killer 16th note runs near the ends of Bach pieces? I was thinking about trying BWV 926, a "Little Prelude in d minor" but the run is intimidating. Reminds me of Fur Elise when it gets "crazy" in the middle not that I can play that.

I think I'm in love with the key of G minor. I learned the Minuet in G minor from the AMB and a Kabalevsky prelude in G minor.

Thanks in advance, Joe.

[hardy_practice]

I would up your research on that.  The 18th century Polonaise is a totally different creature from its 19th century cousin.

[1piano4joe]

Hi hardy_practice,

Thank you for your reply. I am taking your advice on "upping my research on that". I am finding it a difficult process. Do you know of any links or books you can recommend?

I did find this, "The Polonaise (3/4:moderato), as it appears in its pianistic stylization at the beginning of the nineteenth century, carries an accent on the first beat, and, in cadences marking the end of a long period or section, on the second beat". This is from the book, "Chopin: Pianist and Teacher: As seen by his Pupils".

This did take some "digging" to find.

Would it then be safe to say that with Bach, accent the 3rd beat and not with Chopin?

Thank You, Joe

P.S. The Schirmer book, "First Lessons in Bach" does say to play the 3rd beat with a "strong expressive accent" when repeating the initial motive. This was for BWV 125.



 

[hardy_practice]

Can you get to a copy of Groves?  That would clear things up I'm sure.  Check out WF Bach's Polonaises.  There's a great variety of effects there and you certainly wouldn't dance to them.  Ignore indications if there are any - the original manuscript only resurfaced in the 1990's.

[1piano4joe]

Hi hardy_practice,

Do you mean the Groves 29 volume dictionary?

Thank you, Joe.

[hardy_practice]

Yeh, should be at your main library.