3 ms·
I think the point the author is not that "It's unfashionable these days to play Bach". They are saying that "It's unfashionable these days to play Bach on the
by antognini 6y ago
I think the point the author is not that "It's unfashionable these days to play Bach". They are saying that "It's unfashionable these days to play Bach on the piano."
The modern fashion is to play Bach on a period-appropriate instrument like a harpsichord or clavichord. The piano wasn't invented until much later so it is anachronistic to play Bach on a piano. But the disadvantage of Bach on period-appropriate instruments is that the modern piano is really quite an incredible instrument with a much better ability to produce subtle changes in dynamics. So what you gain in historical authenticity you may lose in emotional expression.
- mastazi 6y agoI think you are getting confused between the piano in general, which existed already, and the piano in its contemporary form, which was developed later. Bach had a side job that consisted in selling pianos to rich people. > Even more damning against the “Bach hated pianos” claim is the fact that Bach went on to become an agent for Silbermann, selling his pianos in Leipzig. There’s even a receipt signed by Bach on May 9, 1749, selling a “Piano et Forte” to a Polish count, Jan Casimir von Branitzky. Source https://notanothermusichistorycliche.blogspot.com/2016/07/did-bach-hate-pianos.html https://notanothermusichistorycliche.blogspot.com/2016/07/di...
- antognini 6y agoIt's true that the predecessor of the modern piano existed during Bach's time (and that Bach helped to sell a few). But I would argue that it was more of a curiosity at the time. It certainly was nowhere as widespread as the harpsichord or clavichord. At any rate the pianoforte of Bach's day sounded very different from the modern piano, so playing Bach on a modern piano is still an anachronism. (Whether that's a problem is a separate issue.)