Bach Invention in D minor, I would really appreciate suggestions!

[ranjit]

This is the best I've been able to get the Bach invention so far. I can't think of much to improve upon, and in general struggle with defining how to play Bach musically. Any feedback would be really appreciated!

[medtnerfan]

Here's some suggestions.
A general rule for Baroque music is to give a strong 1st beat, this has to do with the dances that inspired the music. The way the piece is written, you can give that role primarily to the eighths notes (strong weak weak, strong weak weak, etc..) this frees up the sixteenth notes to be more melodic.

There are 4 cadential moments in this piece, try not slowing down for the second one (M.27) to keep the motion going, I think that will help the right hand line. Also, that will help you play the last iteration of the theme in the right hand more strongly, if that's what you wish to do.

I hope that helps

[brogers70]

A couple more suggestions. I'd aim for a steadier, even if slightly slower, tempo. Even though it goes on almost like a perpetual motion, I'd be sure to end phrases gracefully - for example in measures 12 and 14 the right hand ends a phrase on a downbeat, but even though it's a down beat, I wouldn't hit it quite so hard - you don't want to make it vanish either, just come down slightly in volume and end the note deliberately. Where you have a typical Baroque sequence, as in mm5-10 in the right hand I'd shape each of the iterations of the phrase in the same way, but have a downward step in dynamics with each two measure phrase in the sequence. At the cadence on the downbeat of measure 38, I'd let the RH breath a little before the second A - ie make the first A an eighth note and sixteenth rest, rather than a dotted eighth. That's all I can think of now. Sounds good - you manage that LH trill very well.

[pianistavt]

Not bad! It appears you don't have a lot of strength in your fingers yet, i.e. not a lot of tone control.  As strength grows you'll be able to trace the musical lines more precisely.  Some good suggestions above, I'm curious how you are practicing this.  I would recommend:
- practice with a metronome at various tempi from slow to the current one
- practice hands alone
- apply the syncopated rhythm method (with hands alone and hands together)