W. F. Bach: Polonaise E Minor, Robert Hill, fortepiano

[VelikyRostov9]

I hope that you post more of your fortepiano playing. You seem more at ease and natural in it than in your cembalo playing.

[AlsatianCousin]

you are using Delay. That's fine but I'm not sure why. It's lovely though.

[pedropolidoro]

would not be number 8?

Não seria numero 8?

[Timrath]

Beautiful piece, beautifully played. The only thing I don't understand is why this is supposed to be a polonaise. It has none of the typical characteristics of a polonaise. The characteristic rhythmic pattern is completely absent; the usually expected "female" ending is merely a "male" ending, disguised with a triple suspension; the frequent 32nd notes result in a too-slow overall tempo. If it weren't for the title, would one be able to tell that it's supposed to be a polonaise?

[Terrdemarzielle]

@Timrath I think it sounds like a polonaise. What would do you think it sounds like?

[Timrath]

@Terrdemarzielle I have heard polonaises by J.S. Bach, Mozart, Strauss, Chopin, Handel, Tchaikovsky and even Mussorgsky, and they all contain all the essential elements of a polonaise. The present piece does not.

So, I'd say it sounds like a fantasia, a prelude, or the first movement of a baroque sonata. But not like a dance, and certainly not like a polonaise. What makes you say it does sound like one?

[Terrdemarzielle]

@Timrath Mainly just the time signature and the fact that it reminds of romantic style (I've only ever heard polonaises composed in that style.) Maybe it's something of a hybrid, or maybe W.F didn't want to give it a slightly more boring name such as 'prelude.' Anyway thank you for sharing your thoughts and knowledge. By the way, could you tell me what a 'female/male' ending is?

[Timrath]

@Terrdemarzielle A female ending is one where the cadenza occurs inside the last measure. In the female ending of a polonaise, the last measure of a section typically has a dominant chord on its first beat, followed by the tonic on its second beat (and nothing on the third).

A male ending is where the tonic occurs at the first beat of the last measure. That tends to sound stronger and more definite, which is probably why it was called "male." Male endings are far more common in classical music.

[Terrdemarzielle]

@Timrath I see, thank you!

[arnoldusglocke]

@Terrdemarzielle Despite all the well known romantic piano pieces a polonaise needn't be of romantic mood at all: see many baroque examples by Telemann, Müthel and others. This W.F. Bach polonaise figures within a cycle of 12, alternating major and minor keys. It should be listened so - because Bach first placed some much more typical movements, then varied and (in this e-minor) boldly goes to the borders of this form (very slow and melancholic). So Timrath is right despite being wrong.

[luvmusicism]

good piece

[violatione]

wow this is chopin 50 years before!

[earlymus]

@violatione I quite agree with you, except that it is more like 70 years before.

[violatione]

@earlymus Yeah they were born one hundred years apart.

[AlsatianCousin]

@violatione - good observation. Now that you said it, I think so too... it's very much like that :)

[otterhouse]

I understand now why the WF Bach Poloaises were still poular in the easrly 19th century. It's proto Chopin in some places..!

Thanks for posting it with the score!

Rolf

Netherlands

[bersa888]

I think - I'm not the only one, of course - that these polonaises are WF Bach's best works: beautiful, whimsical, sophisticated compositions, hard to play well, to be played to a small audience... or just to oneself ;-)

[Babejuda]

Excellent performance with a strong individualistic interpretation and rich sound which is due not only to the instrument itself, but also to the player and the way he procuces the sounds. Bravo.

[madhg1]

Extremely beautiful playing. Thank you.

Interesting to compare this with Paul Simmonds's recent recording of WFB polonaises and fugues on a large clavichord.

[codonauta]

Hello. How do you get the scrolling effect?

[earlymus]

Photo Story 3 for Windows

[codonauta]

Thanks.

[SibemolAntiqva]

Bravo! :-)

[thebpl]

Perfectly in tune, and with such a strong Affekt in the delivery and timing. Wonderful.

Is this from a live performance or from the Naxos CD?

[earlymus]

It is a live, outdoor performance (if you listen carefully you can hear pigeons cooing in the background from time to time).

[MOZARTasECTASY]

I AWARD THIS 5 WOLFIES...I love everything about this.From the focused,"I'm hanging on for just 1 more drink,before I crawl under a bush and breath my last" affect,to the timing,which satisfies your decades long search to find a "Regular German way of being thoroughly irregular." I Think that the instrument and articulation reinforce this affect with a kind of always intact soulful

bell-like,bird-like quality that refuses to

to be weak in spite of caving into it's vulnerabilities.

[craigalake]

Where have you gone Smith? I've posted BWV 996 prelude if you get this message (all your accounts seem to be suspended or closed).

[ernststolz]

very interesting, great!