The magnificent German organist and composer lived from 16850-1750. Without doubt, one of the greatest of all composers whose music has enriched the lives of countless people through two and a half centuries of listening and performing. His music is still revered for its technical genius, its artistic beauty, and its intellectual depth. So many musicians I have known (and read about) begin their practice days with Bach. There are, however, many pianists that are confused by playing Bach on the piano because he did not write keyboard music specifically for our instrument. However, I'd like to suggest a wonderful video with a lecture/performance given by a classmate from Carnegie Mellon, Fr. Sean Brett Duggan, as part of the Golandsky symposium this past week. Fr. Duggan won First Prize - twice! - in the Johann Sebastian Bach International Competition for Pianists in Washington, DC. Please watch, listen and you will be wonderfully informed about playing Bach on the modern piano. This week, we work on Bach! If you would like more listening inspiration, try this video of Glenn Gould playing a fugue from the Well Tempered Clavier Book 2. He is considered by many to be a very controversial (albeit brilliant) Bach performer. Or watch/listen to one of my current favorite Bach performers, Murray Persia playing a courante from French Suite No. 5. Or Mitsuki Uchida playing a sarabande..... or listen to Andras Schiff play this suite (go to 4:36 for beautiful sarabande). Better stop here.....need to practice!
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