Hi guys, I am in my final year of the three-year First Level degree. This year involves the most difficult hurdle: a choice of 6 preludes and fugues from Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier. Obviously, by choosing a number and a key, one must perform both the prelude and the fugue. Currently, I have ready from the first book: number 2 (C minor), number 5 (D major), and number 9 (E major), and I am currently studying number 2 from the second volume. I wanted to ask you what you think my next choices could be, and which ones might be the easiest and most feasible.
L
Ludovica
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Reply 2 by Ludovica
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298
A friend always used to say: there is nothing easy about Bach
That being said, I would evaluate II, XII and XX from the second book
A friend always used to say: there is nothing easy about Bach
That being said, I would evaluate II, XII and XX from the second book
Obviously, they meant the "less difficult" ones. Some numbers that are at the level of the one in C minor from the first book. Both numbers you listed are actually quite daring (even though No. 12 from the second volume contains one of my favorite fugues... I don't think I am up to it). Other suggestions? ?
in effect, rereading them Ludovica is right, maybe they are the easiest ones. The issue is: the second book is tough
D
Darknino
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Reply 6 by Darknino
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Valchiria wrote:
On 6/11/2018 at 22:14, Valchiria said:
in effect, re-reading them, Ludovica is right; perhaps they are the easiest ones. The issue is: the second book is tough
Look, the remaining two preludes and fugues can be taken from either the first or the second volume (and not just from the second). I don't know if that was understood....
Dear Darknino, from a teaching perspective (and for a more complete training), it is advisable to draw from both volumes ... rather than just one. Since so few must be prepared (compared to those provided for the previous system), I would take this moment with philosophy, reasoning on at least two parameters:
1. TASTE: those that I like; taste cannot be commanded. Unbridled subjectivity.
2. UTILITY: those that give me greater educational value, i.e., those that allow me - once the difficulties are overcome - to improve.
Your question seems flawed by your desire to avoid getting entangled with the aspects related to point 2 (that is, avoiding difficulties at the expense of a choice of taste or educational utility). It is also true that regarding Bach, one can also learn from a minuet ... but it seems like an unhelpful parameter to base oneself on the "simplest" ones, given the truly reduced number of pieces to prepare. Furthermore, difficulties are personal and only your Teacher knows what can "help" you (in every sense).
I know, you probably think that I haven't been helpful or you feel that I haven't fully answered your question.
Dear Darknino, from a teaching perspective (and for more complete training) it is advisable to draw from both volumes ... rather than just one. Since so few need to be prepared (compared to those required by the previous system), I would take this moment with philosophy, reasoning on at least two parameters:
1. TASTE: those that I like; taste cannot be commanded. Unbridled subjectivity.
2. UTILITY: those that give me greater educational value, i.e., those that allow me—once the difficulties are overcome—to improve.
Your question seems flawed to me by your desire to avoid getting entangled with the aspects related to point 2 (that is, avoiding difficulties at the expense of a choice of taste or educational utility). It is also true that regarding Bach, one can also learn from a minuet ... but it seems like an unhelpful parameter to base oneself on the "simplest" ones, given the truly reduced number of pieces to prepare. Furthermore, difficulties are personal and only your Teacher knows what can "help" you (in every sense).
I know, you probably think that I haven't been helpful or you feel that I haven't fully answered your question.
In reality, I followed the advice. For the exam, I will also perform numbers 12 and 6 from the second volume. No. 12 has a long fugue that requires great mental effort from beginning to end, while no. 6 is very useful for training the left hand. Thanks for "encouraging" me xD