Interpreting Bach at the Keyboard
The ever-increasing number of performances of Bach's music is a sign of its enduring vitality. But perhaps no other composer is subject to such a wide diversity of interpretation—assessing the merits of these many interpretations and unravelling the sources and documents on which they are based can be extremely difficult for the modern performer. In this important book, Paul Badura-Skoda draws on forty years of studying and performing Bach to present startling new insights into many different aspects of Bach's music. He looks at rhythm, tempo, articulation, and dynamics; examines the instruments for which Bach's music was intended, and considers problems of sonority. He then discusses ornamentation in depth, analyzing each of the signs and symbols used by Bach, and argues that much of Bach's ornamentation in current performance is monotonous and fails to reflect the actual Baroque style. Sometimes contentious, always stimulating, Badura-Skoda's book conveys a passion for an informed interpretation of Bach's music based on a recognition and respect for Bach's actual intentions. Copiously illustrated with musical examples, the book will take its place as a standard work for all students and performers of Bach's ever-popular keyboard music.
1100465242
Interpreting Bach at the Keyboard
The ever-increasing number of performances of Bach's music is a sign of its enduring vitality. But perhaps no other composer is subject to such a wide diversity of interpretation—assessing the merits of these many interpretations and unravelling the sources and documents on which they are based can be extremely difficult for the modern performer. In this important book, Paul Badura-Skoda draws on forty years of studying and performing Bach to present startling new insights into many different aspects of Bach's music. He looks at rhythm, tempo, articulation, and dynamics; examines the instruments for which Bach's music was intended, and considers problems of sonority. He then discusses ornamentation in depth, analyzing each of the signs and symbols used by Bach, and argues that much of Bach's ornamentation in current performance is monotonous and fails to reflect the actual Baroque style. Sometimes contentious, always stimulating, Badura-Skoda's book conveys a passion for an informed interpretation of Bach's music based on a recognition and respect for Bach's actual intentions. Copiously illustrated with musical examples, the book will take its place as a standard work for all students and performers of Bach's ever-popular keyboard music.
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Interpreting Bach at the Keyboard

Interpreting Bach at the Keyboard

Interpreting Bach at the Keyboard

Interpreting Bach at the Keyboard

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Overview

The ever-increasing number of performances of Bach's music is a sign of its enduring vitality. But perhaps no other composer is subject to such a wide diversity of interpretation—assessing the merits of these many interpretations and unravelling the sources and documents on which they are based can be extremely difficult for the modern performer. In this important book, Paul Badura-Skoda draws on forty years of studying and performing Bach to present startling new insights into many different aspects of Bach's music. He looks at rhythm, tempo, articulation, and dynamics; examines the instruments for which Bach's music was intended, and considers problems of sonority. He then discusses ornamentation in depth, analyzing each of the signs and symbols used by Bach, and argues that much of Bach's ornamentation in current performance is monotonous and fails to reflect the actual Baroque style. Sometimes contentious, always stimulating, Badura-Skoda's book conveys a passion for an informed interpretation of Bach's music based on a recognition and respect for Bach's actual intentions. Copiously illustrated with musical examples, the book will take its place as a standard work for all students and performers of Bach's ever-popular keyboard music.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780198165767
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication date: 08/10/1995
Series: Clarendon Paperbacks
Edition description: REPRINT
Pages: 592
Product dimensions: 9.08(w) x 5.70(h) x 1.44(d)

About the Author

Professor Paul Badura-Skoda is a pianist and scholar.

Table of Contents

AbbreviationsA note on terminologyPart 1. General Problems of Interpretation1. An authentic eighteenth- century performance source: C.F. Colt's organ-barrels2. Studies in rhythm3. In search of the correct Bach tempo4. Bach's articulation5. Dynamics6. Problems of sonority7. Problems of harpsichord and piano technique, and of expressive playing8. The Urtext problem: An imaginary interview9. Rendering the structure as a whole10. Prelude in E flat minor and Fugue in D sharp minor, WTC I, BWV 853. An analysis for performancePart II. Studies in Ornamentation11. Introduction12. The development of ornamentation in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries13. J.S. Bach's ornaments: Some general remarks14. Pralltriller15. Appoggiaturas16. The loner trill17. Bach's mordent18. Arpeggios19. The application of ornaments that are not notated20. Free embellishments in Bach's keyboard works21. EpilogueAppendix 1. Some recommended editions of Bach's keyboard worksAppendix 2. Some textual and interpretational problems in Bach's Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue, BWV 903Appendix 3. J.M. Gesner, 'Johann Sebastian Bach as conductor, keyboard player, and organist' (Göttingen, 1738)Appendix 4. Excerpt from the Article 'Takt' in J.G. Sulzer's Allgemeine Theorie der schónen Kunste, vol. ii (Leipzig, 1774)Appendix 5. The Dedication of Partita No. 1 (BWV 825) and the Dedicatory PoemAppendix 6. Friedrich Blume and Hans Joachim MoserBibliographyIndex
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