Bach WTC, G major bk 2

[ralessi]

IM playing the G major P&F from book 2 and me and my teacher have been going back and forth on a speed...he wants me play it no faster than 108 and its even marked at 132...132 is a bit fast but 108 is wayyyyyyy too slow....any suggestions on tempos? Like, anything in writing...becuase just picking one will not help my case against him...thanks!

Cheers!
Ricky

[faulty_damper]

Bach wrote no indication of tempo marking in this prélude.  The edition you are using is an edited one.  Which edition are you using?

Looking at the figurations, the left hand caries the melody in mm1-3; the right caries an Alberti figurations.  Ask yourself what mood the melody conveys and expresses itself the best.  Just play the melody alone without accompaniment.  Then add the pedal point.  Then add the right hand figurations.  Each element you add will have some affect on the perception of the melody.

Then just play the Alberti figuration alone.  Figure out what the purpose of it is by finding a tempo that serves itself best.  (Usually, as with many of these figurations, it is used as a "filler" to support a melody.) Then add the melody.  The add the pedal point.  Keep in ming we are still looking at the first three measures.


In my opinion, considering the texture, the faster tempo would serve the music much better, though I may have differing thoughts later.

[Barbosa-piano]

        Well, first of all... I don't think the teacher should control the student like that, recording that most of the great pianists had the mind of their own! But when it comes to this music, I believe that 108 is absurdly slow! Since most of the music is in this kind of toccata and fugue style, which the notes are changed in a back and forth motion to the main note, I believe that m.m. 132 is fair, since the tempo indication on my edition is Vivace (Dover Edition). I believe that Glenn Gould's eccentric Bach playing could involve this kind of slow tempo! For me, would be a real challenge to listen to my teacher in a situation like this, but, do what?! This is a great piece, and I hope you can find the best solution.
                                                                Enjoy practicing!

[wintervind]

It should definately be performed at a faster speed than your teacher is suggesting.  Perhaps he/she is trying to teach you control of tempo? just a thought

I never checked the meteronome marking for how fast I play it but it is definatly slower than the Glenn Gould version but faster than the tempo your teacher is suggesting.
In my opinion though, it should only be played faster if you are achieving clarity. Sloppy fast sounds worse than slower clear playing

[jlh]

The only thing I can think of is that perhaps your teacher is observing that 108 is the fastest you can play and keep it clean???