Mike - I'm going to start going over The Dream Recital - but not
necessarily in the Order that I give them here on my Classical Piano
Seminar Blog.
I'll start with Bach's Prelude In CM no. 1:
Just this morning - in fact a few minutes ago - I sat down to play the Prelude
in CM and it all came together for me .
In performing this - or just playing it alone or for Someone Special - I would
first play it through with no Pedal - trying not to put in any Dynamics.
Why - because I believe that Bach's Music - as I have said before - is
Pure and Perfect.
The Notes Are All You Need - Really.
The Music I have is marked Allegro - but I would try not to Play it too fast - the
first time - as to really listen to the Melody Line (the Consistant Half Notes in the Left Hand)
and - of course- the Harmonies. The only Variation in Tempo would be the Last
Two Measures when there is a Broadening Feeling.
For the Second Time - I would use Pedal - and I like the Dynamic Markings in
the Music I have - so I would pretty much follow those - but mostly I would just
Let Myself Express How I Feel About This Amazing Work of Johann Sebastian Bach.
Thanks Mike.
What do you think?
I typically play everything slow because it gives me more time to figure out where I'm going to put my fingers next. And I usually park my foot on the pedal to make sure some sound is going on while I search for the next keys. Sometimes I make an effort to take my foot off the pedal to prevent the sound from getting too muddled, but usually my brain gets overloaded if it has to control two hands and a foot. But I do think prelude in C should be played slow. It should soothe, not excite, the listener.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you know about Hannon's Virtuoso Pianist? I was advised to play those drills along with some others. It sure makes my hands feel clumsy.
bftm
Mike - I have the complete book of Hanon - and I think it is Great.
ReplyDeleteThe thing about Hanon is that it gives you a chance to limber up your fingers - without playing Real music - because the more that you play Real music - if it has not been practiced and learned properly - you will just practice in the mistakes.
Plus - of course - there is so much Great technical stuff in Hanon.
I should get it out and pound on that for a while instead of practicing mistakes in the music I want to learn - until I'm really ready to learn it.
We all want to hear ourselves play - and that is the danger of doing that. Tchaikovski said that.
I agree about playing the Prelude in CM slow - but it also invites us to let go the second time and have our way with it.
Thanks Mike.