Varying on repeats in Bach

[pianissima]

I am going to perform the A minor prelude and fugue from WTC II, and I’d like to do the repeats in the prelude, but I’m stuck on whether to do any sort of variation the second time. This prelude doesn’t lend itself to added trills, so it would have to be dynamics or articulation, and nothing I’ve tried so far sounds right. Any ideas?

[themeandvariation]

Although with prelude repeats it is good to consider a few choice spots for ornamentation, (the amount of embellishment depends on the particular prelude, though 'just enough' is the rule of thumb ), but this particular prelude - the way it's written - the ornaments would only burden the delicacy and the laconic and striking lines of the composition.  Not sure I would change any articulation either. You might try playing it the first time kind of "straight" emotionally, with absolutely no rubato. Then the second time have slightly more dynamic swells, with just  a touch of rubato. And I mean just a touch. (Slightly more 'romantic').
Also, different lines (phrases)  could be more highlighted (and less highlighted) than the first time.
Give it a try!

[lelle]

I've played this one both with and without repeats, and I think it's better with repeats. You can definitely vary things between repeats, but I think it needs to be subtle like themeandvariation says.

You can experiment with ornaments, but listen and consider carefully. Is it you doing ornaments for the sake of being someone cool who adds ornaments the second repeat, or does it actually benefit the music? There is no right or wrong, just be honest with yourself and have fun exploring.

[pianissima]

What I’m liking so far is to play the first time with a fuller sound and the second more delicately but with similar shaping.

I have two teachers right now (long story), and one said to make a dramatic difference (like, use the una corde pedal on the repeat), while the other said the repeats were too boring so don’t do them at all.

I don’t want to get too fussy with this …

[brogers70]

Whether or how you vary the repeats, I think it is more likely that you will get bored than that the audience will. If the music is good, there's nothing wrong with hearing it twice. Even without your making any changes or ornamentation the context is different - when the A section is repeated you hear it start up following the final cadence of the A section instead of following silence, and when the B section is repeated it follows a final tonic cadence rather than the cadence from the end of the A section. Bach is interesting and complex; even though you know the piece through and through, audience members may appreciate a chance to hear it all more than once. It's like looking at a painting slowly rather than zipping past it in the museum. So I'd vote for leaving the repeats in, even if you vary them not at all or only a little.

[pianissima]

I found a post on this site - an interview with a pianist - that mentions variation on repeats:
https://www.pianostreet.com/blog/piano-news/piano-music-to-cleanse-the-soul-pietro-de-maria-on-bach%e2%80%99s-48-8220/

I should probably record what I'm attempting so I can hear what it sounds like.

[lelle]

Always a good idea!