J.S. Bach - 8 Short Preludes & Fugues, BWV 558 (# 6)

[KhagarBalugrak]

So there are only three geniuses of music, all of them German/Austrian? You're saying no geniuses of music were ever born anywhere outside Germany and Austria? What a narrow, bigoted view.

[1993JosephS]

@KhagarBalugrak yeah nationalism.

[XxMarieGracexX]

Marvolous, simple MARVOLOUS! Bach never ceases to amaze me...

I'm doing this piece for my Collage Auditions this fall:)

[adonde1000]

LO MEJOR DE LA MÚSICA ESTO ES MÚSICA

[TheDiablo106]

To those of you who are criticizing my good friend's video: Many people have different styles they play in. But many people have different TALENTS. So what if he's playing fast? At least he can stick to what he plays with a straight face. You guys have your own styles, he has his own. Just sit back and relax. It's pretty retarded seeing hateful comments on other musician's videos. Just get used to it. Great job Andy! I'll admit you went pretty fast, but well done. :P See you at school Monday. xD

[NiamhFrancisPianist]

@TheDiablo106 Ya, fast, but well able to play it at that speed. Lovely ornamentation, also love the change of stops at the end of the prelude!

[heartbeat2thenation]

my favourite of the 8, well played!

[MrTimhampshire]

Love the speed, registrations & ornamentation - well done!

[narwhal5646]

Very much like this piece. I have just learnt it on the organ, my first actual piece I learnt.

[hurricaneolga]

oh nd i might add ur a little fast. the tempo in most copies indicates a little slower.

[ChuckAvalon]

By the time of Bach's music, there was no way in hell he'd let you ornament freely. Improvised ornamentation was for earlier baroque music. Don't insult Bach with your needless ornamentation of the first statement of the subject.

[wrldSPNS84]

What are you talking about there's no ornamentation in Bach's music? Do you play an instrument, and have you looked at the sheet music? At least in piano there's clearly markings of ornamentation.

[ChuckAvalon]

Perhaps you should read my comment again. There was no IMPROVISED ornamentation in Bach's music. Any ornament that was to be played was written down by Bach (or possibly snuck in by an editor or publisher).

[colinmacknight]

thats added by the editor. i think that ornamentation is good when not over-used.  using it like anthony newman, however, is disgusting at times.

[colinmacknight]

also bach never wrote piano music

[Owdfolkie]

@colinmacknight - not strictly true...

Although the piano was, admittedly, in its infancy in Bach's day, in 1747 he visited the court of Frederick II of Prussia in Potsdam, where the king played a theme for Bach and challenged him to improvise a fugue based on his theme. Bach improvised a three-part fugue on Frederick's piano and later presented the king with a Musical Offering which consists of fugues, canons and a trio based on the "royal theme," nominated by the monarch.

[colinmacknight]

@Owdfolkie

bach played a piano. he never wrote for it.  the musical offerings instrumentation is not specified except for the trio sonata which is for violin, flute and basso continuo. but a lot of it can't be played on a keyboard instrument without pedals because there are too many voices (like the 6 voice ricercar). also, bach not only improvised a three voice fugue on that theme but he improvised a 6 voice fugue on a different theme

[feecalmatter91]

@Owdfolkie bach was amazign didnt know this.. reminds me of mozart... who at a young age would "record" all the piano playings he heard and could play them back note for note.

[hurricaneolga]

@ChuckAvalon i agree completely. not only is it highly unorthodox its simply excessive and renders the ornamented areas of the melody nearly unidentifiable. the fugue was great!

[twolefthanz]

You guys should be journalists. Your'e all hopeless at being music critics.

[3NUNS]

@twolefthanz : Good on yah mate !

[robertgift]

Trill at :29 should start on upper note.

What is this confusion at 1:18?

Play the subject pure so we get to know it.

THEN, if you wish, embellish later.

Exuberantempo! Though I never played it this fast, I like the refreshing speed.

[organman52]

Your grade of C- is rather generous, I think. We all know that the organ suffers in the 'public eye' [not that I give a damn]. The main reason is that individuals such as koopman ALIENATE listeners by their erratic 'approach' to the music. Imagine a first-time listener hearing this performance. I know I would turn it off immediately because of its excessive speed and complete lack of emotion/expression - and I do not mean 'interpretation.'

[robertgift]

Were I to hear how Bach himself plays, I would be concerned that it may be far different than the way I play.

After learning the Rachmaninoff Prelude in G minor, I heard a recording of his performance on a reproducing piano.

Was disturbed how different it was than the way I play it.

I like mine better.

[bassgoonist]

Just because the trills aren't written in the music doesn't mean you can't put them in. In fact sometimes you really should put them in if you're trying to play like they would've back then.

[ooteedee1234]

i think it s great. the extra trills have a nice touch. everybody s entitled to their interpretation and this is great.

[ilovebach123]

yes a little to fast

[coolgeek001]

why is it so fast???? but other than that good

[criticorganist]

perfect

[firebreathone2]

amazing

[aal49]

Yup. Superfluous ornamentation and much much too fast! Remember the old boy was playing a tracker!

[willhandysides]

I play this one but somehow this has been changed - extra ornaments and things? Also it sounds as if the wrong emphasis is being used in the prelude. Maybe I'm wrong...

[szentmartoni1]

Thank you very much!