There is something still fun about some video games. Not having the patience for many of the shooters, most of the time I play the games like Mass Effect, character driven dramas more akin to the movies I watched growing up. A space opera, with many colorful characters and heartfelt moments. I enjoy the stories, the melodrama, and the interactivity these games provide. In many cases it is like getting to play through star wars.
I also treated myself to a bottle of Chopin Vodka, I will include a picture of the awesome bottle. Which includes a picture of the composer. I was sadden to realize that you do not get Chopin's genius when drinking his vodka. I think the company needs to find a way to put that in the olives.
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| Adding a little Legato to my evening. |
Some how, this reminded me of music of Johann Sebastian Bach, and how it is perceived by many; Viewing it as formulaic, archaic, and in a some cases dull. This view is prevalent in even how we decide to interpret Bach. Many times blame rests on the instrument that the music was written for, the clavichord.
The clavichord has a fantastic tone, it can be delicate and charming, but at the same time tremulous. The instrument is unique in that the action that produces the sound, also ends it, by the metal(this part is called the tangent, for those who are just dying to know) holding onto the string as long as the key is held. As long as that key is held, the sound is allowed to vibrate, but as soon as it is let go, the sound is dampened. This is different from the harpsichord, where the strings or plucked.
The clavichords, which may have predated the harpsichord, my recollection of history deciding to return to me with a hangover from too many appletini's on the beach. Though, what I do remember is that it remained a relatively popular instrument among the composers. Mozart, composed his famous opera, the magic flute, using a clavichord, and Beethoven was reported to have said that out of all the keyboard instruments, he could get the widest variety of expression from the clavichord.
For Bach, this emphasis on variety of touch is paramount, and essentially to have a flexible and subtle range of tone production. This would be difficult for any composer to put on paper, and so it is up to us, as performers to make these choices. The general idea, when playing the piano is use of relaxation and using the weight of the arm, but for Bach, it is essential to let the fingers do the work. It is obvious these pieces, especially those written in The Well Tempered Clavier, are intended for finger work. That is to not say one is more important to the other, but rather just another "tool in the tool box" that as a pianist we can apply for musical purposes.
The mistake is viewing Bach's music as dry, formal, and uninteresting; his music is the opposite, full of beauty, lyricism, and poetry. He is extremely melodious, despite, his tough architecture and intricate polyphony. It is an utter joy to follow his various voices and see where they wander, and finding when to emphasize and when to subdue, when to allow the music to flow, or punctuate the notes.
His musical ideas can be found all throughout the Well Tempered Clavier:
The prelude in D major, from book I gives us a light-hearted, spring mood. Almost as if people are enjoying a nice spring day, kids playing tag, running in a field, pervades the entire piece.
The prelude in E minor gives us something else entirely. A prelude full of passion, painful longing, and impetuousness.
The prelude in G sharp minor from book I is full of nuances. The piece feels serious, but with small glimpses of light that peek through the cracks.
There are many more examples, just from the Well Tempered Clavier, but they point to one idea. Bach cannot be heartless, unsympathetic playing of the notes, but mental comprehesntion of the art and mood being expressed. The pianist must work his fingers around the subtle nuances and changing moods that Bach Demands of us, to successfully adapt it to the piano of today.
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