Ed Brye for Cliburn YouTube Contest

[elasticbowman]

I never play Bach-ish music with pedal, but that's just me.

[renefrey]

Dear Ed,

I just listened in again on your last year's recital and was again amazed at God's gifting! May He lead you as you prepare for the next one. How's Beth? Joyfully, René

[renefrey]

Ed, I wanted to post a 5 star evaluation but Youtube stopped registering my 4th and 5th star. Not fair. -René

[Edbrye2008]

René, that's difficult to understand. I think the Cliburn Foundation is working on getting out "bugs" like this. - Ed.

[renefrey]

Hey Ed and Beth,

When are you coming to do a concert in Montreal, along with sharing news about Cameroon?  Wow, you play superwell! -René

[Edbrye2008]

Merci! (On essaye de son mieux.) - We're extending, so chances are better for both. It would be wonderful to see you all again! Greet everyone! -- I hope this uplifting Bach fugue was balm for the soul! - Ed

[kentkenttube]

Ed,

I always admire pianist with Bach playing so well. Nice work.

Fumi

[Edbrye2008]

I do, too, such as when I see Glenn Gould playing with fingers "dancing" on the keys. :) Thanks, Fumi. - Ed.

[vindikation]

Nice playing, do you think that Bach's music is the most difficult to play on the piano?

[Edbrye2008]

Thank you. - Re: your question: This would depend on the individual pianist's capabilities and limitations, the relative difficulty of the particular Bach composition, and the quality of the piano at hand. Someone recently said that Bach's pieces are more difficult to play than they appear to be. (Do you agree?) - I appreciate your writing. - Ed.

[vindikation]

I've played guitar for 25 years but really on the piano seriously for a few months so I have no idea about Bach's difficulties...well it is very difficult on the guitar as well, but I'm not sure if it is the hardest. I recently spoke with someone playing many Beethoven Sonatas and he said Bach was the most difficult. My uneducated guess would be that Rachmonivov would probably be the toughest? What do you think is the most difficult piano piece ever written Rachmoninov's Piano Conerto #9?

[Edbrye2008]

Welcome to the world of pianism where you use all 10 fingers in many combinations! - Rachmaninoff wrote 4 piano concerti, his 3rd being the most difficult (and long at 45 minutes). Difficulty, like beauty, is in the eye (or ear) of the beholder. A memorized performance of Ravel's 20-minute long Gaspard de la Nuit is believed by some to be a badge of accomplishment and a milestone of entry into professional concert pianism. Play what you enjoy; progress will come naturally. - Ed.

[infernobegins]

Bach is difficult in that he reveals the technique of the player. Some call it "finger work," but one can assess the tone generated by the pianist more clearly than any other composer. Voicing is extremely difficult: you must have an intuitive understanding of his counterpoint. And, Bach is not dictated (with expressive markings); you have the burden of interpreting his work. Yes, Gaspard de La Nuit or the Rach 3rd are more physically demanding.

[infernobegins]

This is 'Liszt-Bach'.

[Edbrye2008]

I wonder if Liszt envisioned his transcription of this Bach fugue as one that would be suitable for the "big sound" desired in a concert hall. Any thoughts? - Ed.

[lapianissimo]

That's a pretty piece--don't think I've ever heard it before. I find the octaves in one hand hard to do as they skip around, and you're good at that. Overall nice job.

[Edbrye2008]

This is one of two Bach fugues referred to as "The Great". The second is the one in G minor. The A Minor here often requires maintaining tempo while also keeping the fourth or fifth finger down while bringing the thumb under the 2nd or 3rd finger to play a third, or bring the 2nd or 3rd finger over the thumb to play a third. There are also blocked elevenths, and measures of descending sixths. Leslie Howard, former Liszt Soc. Pres, has a CD of Bach-Liszt pre. & fug. Thanks for your note. - Ed.

[wildejag]

Glorious. The contrast in dynamics is especially pleasing to my ear. I gave it a 5.

[Edbrye2008]

Stephen, Re: dynamics, I grapple with 2 issues: maintaining a generally steady tempo (required so listeners build emotional involvement when anticipating the theme's recurrence) while allowing a romantic flexibility that may modify tempo. One "dynamic" almost never gets mentioned: "romantic choreography" (gestures that reinforce what's heard) which is another aspect of performance. I appreciated both your note and the "5"! All the best to you as we both continue. With my thanks, Ed.

[dnephi]

This is one exceptionally difficult fugue. Congratulations on your performance. I particularly liked how you kept the tempo steady when the subject came in the left hand octaves instead of speeding up.

You some rather peculiar things in the coda, some of which I really liked and some which were a bit more bizarre.

[Edbrye2008]

Challenges do abound with this fugue. Re: coda, I ponder when to start the final stretch. Is it to begin as late as the last line or as early as the start of the last page? In either case, "Why?" This romantic transcription by Liszt of an organ fugue by Bach (baroque) suggests the artist-performer is allowed the liberty of contextualizing personal interpretation. You pose an excellent question about what I will call "the art of anticipating the end". Thanks for commenting! - Ed.

[a124947]

Nice build-up to the ending. Enjoyed it.

[Edbrye2008]

I'm glad you enjoyed this lively fugue! It really is one of Bach's greatest fugues, and I never tire of this piece because it is so uplifting. - Many thanks for writing. - Ed.