Joshua Hillmann plays Bach English Suite No. 2 (1 of 2)

I. Prelude

Joshua Hillmann, Piano

8th Annual International Russian Music Piano Competition, June 10th, 2007 in San Jose, California.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• russian
• music
• international
• competition
• Joshua
• Hillmann
• bach
• english
• suite
• prelude
• piano

[MarcusOhrealyis]

I have never heard Bach played more beautifully Joshua. Never mind the critics. You play beautifully, and articulately. This performance stands with any of the masters.

[jhpianist]

@MarcusOhrealyis Thanks! :)

[natoush777]

mistake at the bottm of pge 2 but rlly good!!

[jhpianist]

Well, technically you can find more than 1 mistake in this performance if you listen closely... but consider this was my opening piece at my first major international competition and there ya go. Thanks for listening! Josh

[augustleroy]

this performance should have more of a comanding, stronger sound. not loud, stronger, and a steady tempo. bach doesn't change tempo, and there should be no pedal. there are exceptions of course, but in this suite there is no need for pedal. the opening theme expecially should be strong and sure, not timid.

[jhpianist]

@augustleroy I disagree there is no need for pedal in this suite. Keep in mind if you were to make a purely authentic performance you wouldn't be playing on a piano at all. Playing Bach on a piano is to play a transcription, and as such some concessions are admissible as long as performance practice permits. For instance, where would you draw the line as far as dynamics are concerned? Would you say, since it was composed for an instrument of limited dynamics, that such gradients are bad?

[PianistaMetallaro]

I love Bach and English Suites... I know very well this suite (as piano player) and all I can say is "very good execution"

[MarcusOhrealyis]

I really admire your dynamic contrasts and color. Excellent Bach! Glenn who??

[GoldisMoney84]

Hmm, I'm not too fond about those crescendi dynamics. It's too much of that. I like the Gould version more, because it's cleaner and more mathematically played.

[InnocentParadis]

Splendid. (Your other rendition seems me a little less good.)

[respekt200]

czerny 

[flutiste94]

great job especially for an opening piece in the competition as you said! :)

[lauraannetsch]

I'm considering playing this for my sophomore state competition and i really like how you play it. I was questioning it's difficulty level and now that I hear it up to tempo it sounds much more appealing and impressive than what it seems when you're in the sight reading stage... haha

[THEPIANO91]

fast song .. beautiful song