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Bach: Fast Or Slow?

GAIsweetGAI From Norway, joined Jul 2006, 883 posts, RR: 7
Posted (6 years 1 month 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 951 times:

I'm currently playing a few pieces by Bach (namely the preludes form English Suites 2 and 5), and I just found myself wondering how fast his pieces should be played. Fast, to make the piece more interesting but harder to play? Or slow, easier to play and to keep a "baroque" feel to it?

Thoughts?

"There is an art, or rather a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."

3 replies: All unread, jump to last

CastleIsland From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 1, posted (6 years 1 month 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 927 times:

Many interpretations of Bach (at least those committed to recordings that I have heard) are taken at a fairly brisk tempo, and I question whether that was the tempo originally conceived by the composer. I tend to prefer up-tempo pieces, but a somewhat slower tempo might be more "authentic."

Then again, I could be wrong. Wink

Pelican From Germany, joined Apr 2004, 2530 posts, RR: 8
Reply 2, posted (6 years 1 month 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 926 times:

Quoting GAIsweetGAI (Thread starter):
I'm currently playing a few pieces by Bach (namely the preludes form English Suites 2 and 5), and I just found myself wondering how fast his pieces should be played. Fast, to make the piece more interesting but harder to play? Or slow, easier to play and to keep a "baroque" feel to it?

This won't help you much but nonetheless I say play it how you feel it should be played. By the way on what do you play them. For a "real" baroque feeling you would probably need a harpsichord. Therefore I (and I don't play an instrument) would say don't be impressed form the baroque origin.

pelican

GAIsweetGAI From Norway, joined Jul 2006, 883 posts, RR: 7
Reply 3, posted (6 years 1 month 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 913 times:

Quoting Pelican (Reply 2):
By the way on what do you play them. For a "real" baroque feeling you would probably need a harpsichord.

I play them on the piano (I also play the organ), but I would really like to try a harpsichord one day.

[Edited 2007-04-17 23:10:39]

"There is an art, or rather a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."

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