Eduard Lenner plays Bach - Prelude and Fugue in C major

[PrincessAcire]

Why do people always feel a need to hate? So sad. This is an excellent display of talent mixed with just the right amount of emotion. The use of the pedal is solely up to the performer, which I feel in this case was quite tasteful. Excellent job!!

[cmorera]

i like it with the pedal, very ave maria-eske

[1982DavidH]

Getting an error message when I try to play this one now. Anyone else?

[Ohyeahwellyouknow]

Lovely...

[xScenotaph]

good playing!

the fugue was played on a harpsichord. so on the piano are the dynamics meant to change?

[raanan17]

The clarity,conception,and character of genius.

Thank You.

[94jettameowpsst]

sounds like poop with the pedal....and does it bother anyone else that he keeps looking around and "feeling the music" as if he actually wrote the piece? If thats what you have to look like im glad i cant read music

[bddbjrsexy]

@94jettameowpsst Why would it bother you to see another human enjoying this music much as you yourself do?

[MusicGeneration2008]

you play it very good. =)=)

i hate it,when its played too fast. but you have the right tempo, in my oppinion

[DarknessHowls]

Meh, I don't see why people are so anal about not using the pedal with Bach--if it improves the piece in your opinion, then go for it--Bach may not have intended it to be played that way, but who cares? Music, especially Bach, is open to interpretation. That's what makes classics like this great; you can play it a hundred different ways and it will sound great.

[kmcchi]

Exquisite. I strongly prefer this tempo to faster ones.

[itsthequeen113]

you seem to really understand your music, as in you dont just know it from what the score says but you put emotion into it. you did a wonderful job. i really like how you play. keep it up!! :)

[hl2alyx]

is something interesting near the ceiling? why do you keep looking up?

[Narrenschiff]

While the rest of the youtube commenters are right in the criticisms of your speed and pedal (the harmonic rhythm of this piece is too slow for such a slow performance, and a quicker tempo will cancel the necessity for pedal to preserve the harmony), you did a decent job following the harmonic progression. A little too melodramatic for my taste, though.

[1992peter]

WOW!!!!!

That was excelent!

The way you played it made me feel like I was swimming.

I can't swim, but I felt like I was in the water, floating.

And when you played the fugue part of this book, in C Major, I felt like I was on a rollercoaster.

[Anders039]

I think his playing was remarkable and the pedal did fit in very well.

[Kneenibble]

*bows humbly*

Valeas, callide.

[markybabeyy]

bach never used the pedal for prelude, but its sounds so much better.

[markopianist]

I always use pedal for this composition.

[ShredTim]

Having looked through the comments it seems that people want music to be like one of those dance mat games! Perhaps the comments would be more understandable if he was trying to play it true to baroque style and was simply screwing up, but this is clearly his own interpretation. Wouldn't he be playing a harpsichord if he wanted it to be true to baroque?

In any case, I think it sounds great.

[TheRedandWhites]

All of you critics, it is the musicians prerogative to play the song however he feels it should be played. So anyone one who thinks this is too slow, or not baroque enough has no idea what it is to be a musician.

[dqtmarie]

I love the way he is so into the piece. I happen to like how he plays it.

[latitude310]

one of the best interpretations of this fugue ive ever heard

[EmperorOfWei]

I once played this prelude in the style of a harp, by using the damper pedal and sustaining pedal simultaneously. There's nothing wrong in using the pedal for the prelude. But it could have been faster. The fugue was also played too heavily, and pedal should not be used in the fugue. It should sound peaceful, without any drastic fluctuations in dynamics.

I did not like this performance very much, I'm afraid to say. Technique good, interpretation not so good.

[mairuku]

Fugues are very difficult to master. Congratulations, you've pulled one off; it takes a lot of time and effort. You've done a great job on the voicing as well; I could hear them interweaving throughout the piece. Good job, (just skip out on the pedal, since it is Baroque).

[1337ASM]

thts a fine tempo... and if all u tht say its to slow etc...etc... look at teh score.. and u will find tht it does rly say... just like tht dynamics... its about how YOU and only YOU interperate it!!!

[coadycoady]

Fuck there is so much rudeness in the world

Your all fucking haters this is amazing and we all have different tastes.

If you watch it you should be lisnteng to the MUSIC and not bithcing about what he looks like.. get a fucking life

SUPPORT PEOPLE

[KtLauren20]

I play this song too and I play it like he does. I think it sounds amazing and he is a great pianist! He has a great talent and he is using it to the best of his ability. God bless!!!

[ranma187]

would you guys shut up about correctly played dynamics. a person's own interpretation is his own interpretation.

[bmnmtfk]

I find it a very smooth, deep and emotive interpretation...

[Stormlord1977]

don't use the pedal man, it's Bach..

[pianoboyo]

Why not use BOTH pedals! it's Bach. bach didnt write for piano.. any performance is interpretive. One can actually give a very goood account using judicious una corda and half damping techniques. The No pedal rule is for students who dont know how to pedal and cant control their fingers. And YES everyone IS a critic on youtube - huh.. so! why put yourself up there if you dont want feedback!

[TheGuyCalledX]

uh... I find this played to slow. Also, a characteristic of baroque music is its detached.

[benjpianist]

Absolutely not. It is not always detached.

[classicallyjazz]

quote this person...~xlegiofalco~

its all irrelevant, social idealism is detrimental to the true aesthetic quality that is music. If he feels the prelude should be played like so then let him. It doesnt matter how he looks (take a look at most "professional" musicians) Most have their quirks and whatever gets them to play so well, so be it. But dont impose your ideal of musicality and perfection.

[indigoblue555]

Delightful!

Looking forward to more Bach renditions -

go on your way = Thank you for posting=

[samoakley1]

don't mention how he's sat. If that's how he plays, that's how he plays, and he plays well.

[bigfootfilm]

Hey, thanks for posting this! I needed to hear it for my recital. whoever this guy is, he did a good job! Hunchback or not, I felt it yo!

[tombaker1222]

whats with the bent spine?

needs speeding up.

[benjpianist]

I like this tempo.

[remyrem12]

Wow, now I know how the song is supposed to sound.Thank you! I play it way too fast.

[TheGuyCalledX]

No, you play it correctly, he's playing it to slow. Also, its supposed to be w/ semi legato/ detached as characteristic of baroque music

[benjpianist]

The way you like it isn't necessarily the way it should be played all over the world. Note, bach didn't mark it as detached. And CERTAINLY not all baroque music is detached. Nothing is "supposed" to be that way. I like it this way.

[pianoboyo]

Bach wrote no metronome markings - the tempo of the work is open to interpretation.. The articulation is also as non is marked.. One can choose to observe conventions of Bachs time relating to harpsichord and string music etc. But this is a CHOICE not law. We play on a fundamentally different instrument and we must make 'musical' decisions. There are Many ways to play Bach - all valid.

[allan1710]

Correctly??

You really think Bach, who didn't put tempo markings, who constantly transposed/Arranged his own music for different forces would really care?

Besides who wants to hear the same version of the same piece over and over.

Personally I think the tempo is fine on this piece, my only gripe is that it gets too loud for my tastes.

[kekenoza]

Is he blind???

[rentaship]

Definitely not baroque enough. You're playing it the completely opposite style it was written for.

Also, keep your back straight. Move it a little.

[pianofolle]

"not baroque enough" ? why..do u know how baroque sounds on a piano? Is glenn gould "baroque enough" or not? PS-His posture his his own business

[benjpianist]

Agreed.

[TheGuyCalledX]

The harpsichord is very detached, this has pedal, that answer your question?

We might not know how bach would've played it on the piano, but certainly not with pedal.

[jimbobplaysbass]

everyones a critic on youtube...

[IsaacBickerstaffEsq]

Everyone is a critic, period, which is as it should be. We are all the sole arbiter of our own taste.

The problem comes not in the criticism, but in believing that one's own direction and place on the path is where everyone else should be as well.

Judging by some of the comments here I am almost sorry I spent so many decades promoting historical performance.

Because I did so to combat the idea that there is ONE "correct" way to play a piece.

[julian7carter]

Actually I think it's true ... you shouldn't use the pedal on the fugue. Remember this music was written for the harpsichord ...

[SIlentPianist47]

and harpsichord sounds like semi pedal

[BankFace]

I don't blame him for not wanting to look at the audience. That can be a little intimidating.

[icworld]

visual presentation . . . so like, if i bring a painting ur gonna tell me it doesnt sound nice??

[Candimaa]

the fugue is actually played better than the prelude. the prelude is being too monotony, and its mainly because of too much pedal. bravo for the fugue.

[TonicSolFa]

jeez, sit up. Looks like a zombie.

[mamuchi78]

He is feeling the music in his heart.

[xlegiofalco]

its all irrelevant, social idealism is detrimental to the true aesthetic quality that is music. If he feels the prelude should be played like so then let him. It doesnt matter how he looks (take a look at most "professional" musicians) Most have their quirks and whatever gets them to play so well, so be it. But dont impose your ideal of musicality and perfection.

[pianofolle]

well said. totally agree

[indigoblue555]

Agree! From personal taste to absolute statements ....

[Scrithe]

To slow and legato. Needs to be more baroque.

[YGYGYGYGYGYGYGYGYGYG]

Then YOU play it!

[indigoblue555]

There are several ways to play Bach - listen those you like better =

[PianoMickey]

The playing is fine. Every once in a while the right pinky comes down too hard, otherwise the use of the pedal and the smooth legato produces a good "singing tone". It's played in modern, not Baroque style, but that's becoming more acceptable at all levels today.

His torso and arm positions are fine and the head straightens when the shoulders need to be in a relaxed state, but the "hunching" does not contribute to a good visual presentation, which should be part of the artist's goal.

[azndragunboi]

Does anyone else think it's creepy that he's all hunched like that? That can cause really bad back problems in the future. Anywho...good playing!! I love the little additions to the fugue...everything played was flawless to me.

[YGYGYGYGYGYGYGYGYGYG]

azndragurbol - He's trying not to look at the audience. He's just a little nervous playing in front of a crowd. I'm the same way. I could never do it. I want to post YouTube vids of me playing, but can't get it right just because the cam is on me. geez! I hate that so much that I can't even RECORD myself without being nervous.

:o(

'

Very nice playing, kid. I played this one also.

[YGYGYGYGYGYGYGYGYGYG]

No, no big deal, azndraqunboi. He just doesn't want to look at the audience because it's a little intimidating. I'm the same way so I understand. It's perfectly normal not to want to face the audience.