Bach - WTC II completion :) :)

And finally, the last 2 pairs of WTC II. Phew. I believe all of my WTC re-recordings are a world better than my first versions from 2006-2008. They'll have to do FTTB but it would not surprise me if some time from now I get the urge to start all over again...

Bach - BWV 892 - Das Wolhtemperierte Clavier II - Prelude and Fugue No.23 in B major (6:20)
Bach - BWV 893 - Das Wolhtemperierte Clavier II - Prelude and Fugue No.24 in B minor (4:40)

 

Hi Chris,

And you completed the WTC II. Fabulous!

Does this signal that you'll be moving on to the Partitas now?

David

 

Oh, the Partitas... that other holy grail of pianism. I haven't dared contemplating them yet.

I don't think I can produce a complete Bach. In the bad old days I tried to take Bach by storm, but my Blitz got bogged down when I realized he was more powerful than I. It stalled after the first English suite and now I find myself still agonizing over No.2. There's also a lot of older Bach recordings I really need to replace. Maybe one day.... when I'm 64

 

Hi Chris,

Do you think the Suites might be a bit easier than the Partitas? You like Bach's music so much. So you'll carry on with it somehow, I'm sure.

David

 

Hi Chris,

I saw your post on facebook, what an accomplishment of no small feat. Doing a complete Bach recording does seem to be a task on line with climbing Mt. Everest or a challenge of similar and immense difficulty. Downloading these and will listen to them at home.

 

Congratulations, Chris.
I like these two a lot better than the end of WTC I; I think the fugues in particular are more accessible for the audience. In the last one, I felt that you had better control over the fugue than the prelude, which is the way to go in performance since the fugue is always second.
As usual, your fugue phrasing kept its consistency, which makes it more enjoyable for the musicians in the crowd.

As an aside: When you redo these, are you able to separate prelude from fugue? I.e., can you redo one without having to redo the other? Seems a shame to burn a bridge if you don't have to.

 

I don't like Bach's music, I love it Today I was listening to the aria Schlummert ein, Ihr matten Augen, IMO the most beautiful music ever written, and it brought tears to my eyes as always. I wish there were such beautiful things for the piano. But the hammer box can ultimately not match strings and voice in sheer beauty.

The English Suites are easier than the Partitas, but not that much. They're still large and complicated pieces. The French suites are easier again, shorter and simpler, but can still be quite a handful. And then there are the early Toccatas, bursting with youthful vigor. There is a lot to do still.

 

Well it's not as dangerous But certainly not something many people will do. Maybe, just a wild guess, one in 10000 people or so ? Likely even less. Snobbishness lurks just around the corner now

 

Thanks Stu. I have usually far more trouble with the preludes than with the fugues. Mainly as preludes are often fast and ornamented. A lighter action would do wonders but I have to make do with the somewhat sluggish Gaveau. Glad to hear the voicing is sort of ok. I've been bashed about that by several people over the years, and it seems to have helped a bit

The closing fugue of book I is a tortuous affair indeed, like ascending a steep mountain and almost falling down from exhaustion once or twice. It's not for the fainthearted. The victory is immense though once you proudly plant the flag on top. In comparison, the closing fugue of book 2 is a bit deadpan. I'd have liked something more monumental to close the WTC.

I've only done that one one or two occasions, and then very quickly after. Typically I redo both, as the piano sound and my own disposition could be different another day.

 

Thanks all for the thumbs up. Now to redo the book 2 B flat major pair which I seem to have forgotten

 

Do it! I did two of them (2 and 6); just avoid thinking of them as a set to complete and you'll do fine.

Congrats again on your second completion of the WTC. I do expect you to fix 887 one day. :wink: (I'm sure you will.)

By the way, I like the works in progress forum. I might take advantage of that; you know I never finish working on anything. But all I have to record on these days is my mom's Yamaha which is, while not completely horrible, not a Steinway.

 

That might be hard ;-)
OTOH I don't complete lots of projects that I start so why not this one. I'll get to work on them then.

I was practicing that one along with the others but somehow forgot to record it

Provided you DO make progress, yeah this will be the forum for you

 

Any idea which you'll do first? I think I will do 5 next, but I've been saying that for a few years.

You didn't forget 887. That's the one we discussed elsewhere. :wink:

Eh, it's a lot of pressure. Also, I am never alone with a piano any more, which is frustrating. I might have to start practicing on a digital, which is not a good idea but better than not practicing at all.

 

I don't really know them well except 1 and 2, of which I like 2 the best, of course. That one's real corker. Problem is I have a zillion other projects on the stove already.

You've only been back a day and already managed to confuse me But I remember now, it's 890 I forgot, and 887 that's full of sh*t. I'll get to work on them. Again. . . .

That must be frustrating. I'm so happy with my own piano room. It was the first prerequisite when we started looking for a new house.

 

Yes, but no partitas on the site! Not even one, tsk tsk.

 

I know... there are some things I have not recorded yet. It's intolerable and inexcusable isn't it

 

Yesterday I re-recorded the G# minor pair (because of read errors in the Prelude, thx Terez) and the B-flat major pair, which I had forgotten. I hope these are ok, sort of, and think I'm now done, at least for a while, with the WTC. I decided to leave out the repeats of the B-lat major prelude, as with the repeats it seems totally out of proportion to the short fugue.

Bach - BWV 887 - Das Wolhtemperierte Clavier II - Prelude and Fugue No.18 in G sharp minor (8:08)
Bach - BWV 890 - Das Wolhtemperierte Clavier II - Prelude and Fugue No.21 in B flat major (8:04)

 

Would you believe...there are new ones? :lol: