3 ms·
The movie TÁR opens with a music class where Prof. Tár plays the Prelude in C for a reluctant student who says he can't relate to Bach because he was a hetero w
by AlbertCory 4y ago
The movie TÁR opens with a music class where Prof. Tár plays the Prelude in C for a reluctant student who says he can't relate to Bach because he was a hetero white guy. All he can say is "You play very well."
I've played that, of course, since there aren't any conventionally difficult parts in it. There is something about that piece that just gets inside you. That has to be the definition of a really great work of art: you can't say what, exactly, is great about it, but somehow it's just there.
I always wonder what Bach would have said about it. "Oh, yeah, that. Just something I tossed off."
- jacquesm 4y ago> I've played that, of course, since there aren't any conventionally difficult parts in it. ouch. > "Oh, yeah, that. Just something I tossed off." What I wouldn't give for a couple of hours watching JS Bach at work improvising or composing. Just concentrated listening to all of Bach's works is a massive undertaking, it makes you wonder how he found the time to set it all down in between all of his other duties.
- AlbertCory 4y ago> ouch Really? Sorry. I just meant it's nothing like Liszt or a Chopin Ballade, i.e. unplayable for someone like me.
- jacquesm 4y agoPlenty of the WTK is perfectly unplayable for someone like me :) In fact, if I'm honest probably all of it, that won't stop me from trying though.
- AlbertCory 4y agoSame here. The C Prelude, though: that one I can do. No chords; no eighths; no dotted notes. At one point in his career, Bill Evans was dissatisfied with his playing, and spend a year or so sight-reading the WTC. But then, he was Bill Evans.
- jacquesm 4y ago> At one point in his career, Bill Evans was dissatisfied with his playing, and spend a year or so sight-reading the WTC. But then, he was Bill Evans. High standards... that's an amazing story. I'm currently overdosing on Hania Rani. Never knew a piano could sound like that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7ucSisSMnM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7ucSisSMnM
- olau 4y agoThanks for that link! Here's Nils Frahm with a funky piano: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R49faHgWW9w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R49faHgWW9w
- jacquesm 4y agoWow, that piano is amazing. As is the music, bookmarked, I will have to re-play that on the weekend when I have more time to listen to it more carefully. But definitely a keeper. Have you seen these? https://klavins-pianos.com/products/model-450i/ https://klavins-pianos.com/products/model-450i/
- motohagiography 4y agoI know of these, but have yet to see one IRL. Even though piano is not my instrument, if I built a house, I would absolutely have one of these in the conservatory.
- jacquesm 4y agoNext time I'm in Latvia (about once every year) I will definitely seek one out.
- AlbertCory 4y agoNever heard of her. Thanks for that. Listening right now.
- 4y ago
- JoeDaDude 4y agoWhen much younger, I promised myself that if I do nothing else in life, I would learn to play the Prelude in C. I've since met that promise, and played a few other things too, but the Prelude will always be special for me.
- an_aparallel 4y agoQuality...reading Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintainance right now...that quality is "soul" comes to mind :)
- kibibyte 4y agoI've always felt that Prelude in C major is Bach's prank to all of us. It's the start to Well-Tempered Clavier and makes you feel that maybe this set of compositions is approachable. And then you try out the fugue that's paired with this prelude and find that not only is it so extraordinarily difficult to master it at a technical level (your 2 hands have to play 4 different voices! And sometimes the middle voices require you to use your other hand for assistance), but also to be able to voice it well (your 2 hands have to express all 4 different voices clearly!). Sheet: https://musescore.com/user/101554/scores/117422 https://musescore.com/user/101554/scores/117422 Glenn Gould: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUJpXpCbNgw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUJpXpCbNgw The the rest of the preludes and fugues follow a similar schtick.
- jacquesm 4y agoAs a practice tip: split out the voices and practice them individually.
- kibibyte 4y agoThanks for the tip, but I am practicing this with a teacher who has prescribed some similar advice. I've accepted that this just takes time.
- AlbertCory 4y agoA prank, LOL. Supposedly Liszt named some of his easier pieces "Consolations" because they were a consolation to the pianists who can't play his other stuff.