Bach the Decorator
Description: It's Mr. B decorating a 1/2 step!🤩 In this passage (m. 16-17) from Prelude No. 14 in F sharp minor (BWV 883) from Book 2 of The Well-Tempered Clavier (1744) by J.S. Bach, I noticed a longterm half step (D to C#) embedded in the texture of the right hand. It comes on the "and" of beat 1 in m. 16, and resolves down to the C# on the downbeat of m. 17.
In between, there are a lot of short notes (16ths and 32nds) however, essentially, to my ears, it's just D down to C#. I think of it as Bach decorating a simple half step and so, to further an analogy that came to mind, I made my way over to the store for some sparkly wrapping paper and a big bow! Turning a plain cardboard box into a sparkly package, was a fun way to showcase this little musical moment.
Of course, when I encounter this in Bach's music, I isolate the core (bones) notes many times, slowly and singing along, so that when I go back and add on the flourishes, my ears are still anchored in the core-notes. It helps, in a subtle way, to create texture in the playing and is also a whole lot more enjoyable to listen for and to play!🎁
Sheet music for Bach's Prelude & Fugue in F# minor, Book 2: https://s9.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/9/92/IMSLP02191-BWV0883.pdf
If you enjoy this content, then please subscribe. Your comments and likes are also appreciated. Thank you!
Thank you, channel members!!❤️🎹
If you are able and would like to help me continue making content devoted to Mr. B, you can join my channel!🎉 Membership is monthly and you can cancel at any time. To join, please click the "Join" button at the top of my channel's homepage (right next to the "Subscribe" button.) A description of the perks I'm offering will appear, which, if you like, you can then proceed to sign-up. Thank you so much for your support and for watching my videos!🥰
You can also support my channel by "buying me a coffee" over on my Ko-Fi page: https://ko-fi.com/pennyjohnson Thank you so much for your support!☕️🎵
To find out more about me, please visit my website: https://www.pennyjohnsonpiano.com
To purchase a copy of my recording of the complete Inventions & Sinfonias of Bach, please visit: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/j-s-bach-inventions-sinfonias-bwv-772-801/1309335935 (Also available on Amazon).
To purchase my arrangement of J.S. Bach's 15 Two-Part Inventions, for inverted voices, please visit: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/complete-two-part-inventions-bwv-772-786-with-inverted-voices-20689080.html Close description
In between, there are a lot of short notes (16ths and 32nds) however, essentially, to my ears, it's just D down to C#. I think of it as Bach decorating a simple half step and so, to further an analogy that came to mind, I made my way over to the store for some sparkly wrapping paper and a big bow! Turning a plain cardboard box into a sparkly package, was a fun way to showcase this little musical moment.
Of course, when I encounter this in Bach's music, I isolate the core (bones) notes many times, slowly and singing along, so that when I go back and add on the flourishes, my ears are still anchored in the core-notes. It helps, in a subtle way, to create texture in the playing and is also a whole lot more enjoyable to listen for and to play!🎁
Sheet music for Bach's Prelude & Fugue in F# minor, Book 2: https://s9.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/9/92/IMSLP02191-BWV0883.pdf
If you enjoy this content, then please subscribe. Your comments and likes are also appreciated. Thank you!
Thank you, channel members!!❤️🎹
If you are able and would like to help me continue making content devoted to Mr. B, you can join my channel!🎉 Membership is monthly and you can cancel at any time. To join, please click the "Join" button at the top of my channel's homepage (right next to the "Subscribe" button.) A description of the perks I'm offering will appear, which, if you like, you can then proceed to sign-up. Thank you so much for your support and for watching my videos!🥰
You can also support my channel by "buying me a coffee" over on my Ko-Fi page: https://ko-fi.com/pennyjohnson Thank you so much for your support!☕️🎵
To find out more about me, please visit my website: https://www.pennyjohnsonpiano.com
To purchase a copy of my recording of the complete Inventions & Sinfonias of Bach, please visit: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/j-s-bach-inventions-sinfonias-bwv-772-801/1309335935 (Also available on Amazon).
To purchase my arrangement of J.S. Bach's 15 Two-Part Inventions, for inverted voices, please visit: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/complete-two-part-inventions-bwv-772-786-with-inverted-voices-20689080.html Close description
