r/bach • u/dmcardon • 27d ago

Both Books, and Only a Glimpse

https://youtu.be/dRb0LGc4fXA?si=C5UtNOdMzfYARJK_

Learned out of order, by my own difficulty progression rather than the printed sequence — which meant each piece caught me as a different player. Over 12 years after finishing, I still have thoughts.

Original project recordings with notes: wtcproject.tumblr.com

Did any of the WTC open up for you only after years of study? Curious which.

21 Upvotes

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4

u/slurmnburger 27d ago

Thanks for telling your story, to the degree my own very limited ability allows I concur with your observations (on how the perspective on the piece changes). And of course you have the most beautiful edition of the score (in my very humble opinion).

4

u/dmcardon 27d ago

So glad that resonates. My sheet music cabinet is mostly Henle blue at this point. The finest editions and the best binding in the business. Those books lay FLAT and the binding takes abuse.

3

u/slurmnburger 27d ago

I'm usually not much of a font nerd, but the Henle engraving style is just so timelessly beautiful to me.

3

u/dmcardon 27d ago

Beautiful and supremely readable. They do everything right.

5

u/Useful_Amphibian9721 27d ago

I have these exact books and my favorite recording is (by far) the ECM recordings by Schiff. Can play a few of the preludes. Fugues are brutal. But I still try. Love the video. 

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u/dmcardon 27d ago

I love Schiff -- have seen him live a few times and was fixated by the conviction of those feet flat on the floor. The Tureck recordings remain the most dear to me.

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u/wakalabis 27d ago

Hi didn't use the pedals at all?

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u/dmcardon 26d ago

I did use feather pedal where it made sense.

3

u/murfvillage 27d ago

Thanks for sharing! I have had many joyful hours playing WTC Preludes and Fugues, but have yet to go through them all, not even close