Bach Toccata 916

[sallycake10]

I am working on Bach Toccata 916. I find it a little bit difficult. How can I play it neatly for the whole piece? I especially struggle with the 1st movement bar 35 the third beat when the left hand changes from sixteenth notes to eighth notes, both hands become difficult to coordinate, which affects the rhythm of the following phrases. Is there anyone who can give me some suggestions on working on this piece? Thank you so much! 🥹 🙏🏻

P.s and how can I accurately play all the notes of the third movement?

[brogers70]

You might get more responses if you showed an image of the section of the score that is giving you difficulty, and if you narrowed down your question about the 3rd movement. Not everyone will have a copy of the score on hand, and some might not be clear that "916" means BWV916.

[lelle]

I think it's easiest if you post a video of the part that trips you up. Apart from "practice slowly and carefully" and all the other normal practice approaches it's hard to give you good advice without knowing more. Do you have a teacher?

[frodo4]

I am working on Bach Toccata 916. I find it a little bit difficult. How can I play it neatly for the whole piece? I especially struggle with the 1st movement bar 35 the third beat when the left hand changes from sixteenth notes to eighth notes, both hands become difficult to coordinate, which affects the rhythm of the following phrases. Is there anyone who can give me some suggestions on working on this piece? Thank you so much! 🥹 🙏🏻

P.s and how can I accurately play all the notes of the third movement?

Measure 35 of 1st movement: Some may not like this approach, but the simple solution is to skip the last low F# in the left-hand of this measure - i.e., do not play the LH 2nd semiquaver F# of the 3rd beat of the measure.  Just cross off that note.  It will sound great without that note and remove the difficulty. No one will notice except maybe your teacher. 

P.s and how can I accurately play all the notes of the third movement?  This is a rapid and fairly lengthy 3 voice fugue in 6/8 time.  I would make sure you mastered ALL of Bach’s 2-part and 3-part inventions.  This is a requirement IMO.  You should also be able to play several of the fugues from WTC before attempting this movement.  Good luck!

[frodo4]

You might get more responses if you showed an image of the section of the score that is giving you difficulty, and if you narrowed down your question about the 3rd movement. Not everyone will have a copy of the score on hand, and some might not be clear that "916" means BWV916.

Good comment.  I just happen to have the 7 toccatas BWV 910-916 in Alfred Music edition with numbered measures.  People can always find the score on YouTube but it will often not have numbered measures making it difficult but not impossible to help.  Also, a general question about the 3rd movement will only get general answers such as mine, which probably doesn't help much.

[themeandvariation]

Have the RH play the B on beat 4 along with the D. Use fingers 4 and 2. This frees up the LH to play the low F# easily.

(Not playing the F# - as Frodo mentions - takes away a strong momentum to the next bar.)

[frodo4]

Have the RH play the B on beat 4 along with the D. Use fingers 4 and 2. This frees up the LH to play the low F# easily.

(Not playing the F# - as Frodo mentions - takes away a strong momentum to the next bar.)

I included a link to the spot so others can offer their opinion.

I assumed that the LH plays both the F# and the A-Natural 8th-notes for the 2nd half of the 3rd beat.  Were you suggesting that the RH play this A-Natural instead of the LH?  This seems awkward to me.  Also, RH play the B on beat 4 along with the D?? The LH plays the D# and F#.  I'm suggesting all the descending third 8th notes be played by the LH and this agrees with the fingering provided by Hans Bischoff in the Alfred Masterworks edition.

BTW - I understand that the OP is probably long gone. 

The measure in question starts at exactly the 1:49 (1 minute and 49 seconds) marker in the below link.  Notice that the F# that I mentioned (the LH 2nd semiquaver F# of the 3rd beat of the measure) creates the difficulty for the OP IMO.  I think this note would not be missed much because the RH plays a C# for the 2nd semiquaver of the 3rd beat keeping the perpetual 16th note motion in-tact.  Also, this same C# marks the beginning of a new phrase that propels the music forward with momentum to the next bar.  Omitting the F# does not interfere with the momentum IMO. 

[themeandvariation]

Frodo - This is the Adagio movement you are referencing? I thought the question was about the 1st movement. Bar 35.

[frodo4]

Frodo - This is the Adagio movement you are referencing? I thought the question was about the 1st movement. Bar 35.

No.  We are talking about the exact same measure.  I don't know why the picture shows adagio.  Drag it to minute market 1:49 and you will see the measure in question.

[frodo4]

Congrats again themeandvariation on your Mars fugue!  Anyway, my journey elsewhere for a while begins now.  I'm sure you guys will figure out this OP problem.  But again she may be gone.

See everyone later. 

[themeandvariation]

Frodo, I referenced the wrong bar, I was looking at bar 38.  Yes, I agree with your suggestion about this spot.

Thanks for your appreciation of my Mars fugue!