Brandenberg Concerto No. 5, movement 1

[abe]

My orchestra conductors want me to learn the harpsichord part to this peice to play it with our chamber orchestra next fall. Initially, I was happy at this oppurtunity, but the peice looks rather difficult, and I see it would require quite a substantial investment of time over the summer. I'm undecided whether I should pursue this oppurtunity to play some chamber music, or focus on the music I'm working on right now. I also want to be sure I will be able to do justice to the peice, as I already have a full plate (with piano, vacations, and hard classes next school year).

Has anyone played it? How hard would you say it is?(Maybe rank it comparable to other well-known peices)

Do you think it would be worth it to learn this at the expense of learning other solo peices? Should I jump on this oppurtunity?

Any other helpful info you can give me on this peice (if I do decide to play it)?

Thanks for you help,
--Abe

[Lance Morrison]

question: are you going to play it on harpsichord? i ethically wouldn't be able to play it any other way, although, i suck, so of course it doesnt matter

[abe]

No, a grand. I know some people cringe at that, but it's the only option.

[whynot]

I've performed this several times on harpsichord.  It's much (MUCH) easier on harpsichord than piano, but it sounds like you don't have a choice (but I'll just ask, are you positive?? there are people out there with instruments who'd loan you one-- heck, you could use mine).  But if you have to use piano, and it's only the first movement, you can do it if you're fast and your scales are good (I would not do the 3rd mvt on piano).  BUT, if you find that you will get to use a harpsichord after all, don't learn it on piano first and then switch for the concert!  Don't ask me why I bring that up, either...

Most important:  learn the cadenza first (like tomorrow) and memorize it immediately, even if you're going to use music for the concert.  A lot happens harmonically, and it's easy to get turned around unless you know it (the cadenza) extremely well, plus you want to be able to watch your hands for the flying leaps.   
 
I don't know what to compare it to, I'm afraid.  It's physically not too hard if you're fast and have really strong scale work.  It will be harder on piano, though, and musically there are a LOT of decisions to make, which takes time and effort.  I mean, all the possibilities are not immediately obvious; I think the piece requires a lot of thought.  It's fantastic music.  I think it's worth giving up a little practice time on solo repertoire to learn this. 

[apion]

i ethically wouldn't be able to play it any other way,

ditto

[Rach3]

Brandenberg 5 is an extremely demanding piece for a modern piano - it is as transparent as Mozart, and any musical insufficiency is obvious. It's nothing like playing a soloistic romanitc concerto; you're right in the middle of the orchestral texture, you need to be a very good chamber musician to pull it off. There are three soloists - basically a keyboard trio (which is all the slow movement is anyway). The harpsichordist (pianist) has two distinct parts - the figured accompaniment  and the keyboard solo; if you don't like figured bass you'll need to find a realization. The actual notes themselves, on a modern piano, are very hard and unforgiving - you can't rubato your way out of the 32nd note scalar stuff.

You also get a nice four-minute solo cadenza to prove to the audience how much you like Bach.

question: are you going to play it on harpsichord? i ethically wouldn't be able to play it any other way, although

It can be done - Alfred Brendel did it.

[moderatissimo]

I played it on the Harpsichord. It's really difficult. the cadenca is not he difficultest part of it. The main difficulty is not to loose the Orchestra (1/32 passages).  I played many pieces by Bach on a grand piano. Sometimes i thought, the g. p. was better for many pieces (mostly fugues) than the harpsichord. But for me the Harpsichord is the only Instrument for this piece. 

(but I like the recording of it with Edwin Fischer.......)

Listen to it and make a decision

[abe]

Thanks for all the replies, from reading them I see that this peice is probably way over my head, both musically and technically. It would probably be a let-down to me, the orchestra, and the audience if I attempted it, especially on a modern piano. I'll bring it to my teacher monday and ask her anyway, but I'm already thinking of how I'll tactfully let my orchestra conductors know of my decision.

Thanks for the advice, you guys have helped me avoid a commitment I could not fulfill.
--Abe

[apion]

Thanks for all the replies, from reading them I see that this peice is probably way over my head, both musically and technically. It would probably be a let-down to me, the orchestra, and the audience if I attempted it, especially on a modern piano. I'll bring it to my teacher monday and ask her anyway, but I'm already thinking of how I'll tactfully let my orchestra conductors know of my decision.

Thanks for the advice, you guys have helped me avoid a commitment I could not fulfill.
--Abe

Offer to play the Busoni concerto instead. 

[abe]

Offer to play the Busoni concerto instead.

Ahem, why do you insult me so? Don't you know I'm way past such simplistic music? 
Plus, where would I find a decent male choir (our men's chorus isn't the greatest...)

[6ft 4]

You're turning down the offer to play what is surely the most impressive, powerful.....GREATEST cadenza ever written!!!!!

....for the harpsichord

[abe]

My decision isn't final...I just worry I would slaughter it. I can always try, though.
The cadenza is cool.

[Lance Morrison]

just wanted to say THANKS to everyone for their responses on this thread; i was glad to hear everyone's insight on  performance of this piece. i may not be J.S. Bach's biggest fan, but this is one piece by him that I do really love

i was wondering--isn't instrumental balance difficult to achieve on pieces like this, particularly older concertos?

[whynot]

Well, you'll be on a modern instrument that's more powerful than the original, but probably everyone else will be too... modern bows, flute etc, which have more presence and carrying power than period-style , so I think balance would not be a problem.  If they were using baroque bows and traverso, that might be trickier.  So you haven't ruled it out, eh?