2023.08.05 -- 4 hours
· Bach French Suite No.5 Allemande First Half Detailed Learn
· Bach French Suite No.5 Gigue Second Half Rough Learn
· Lera Auerbach Trio No.1 First Movement First two phrases Rough Learn
· Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1 1st movement Section B Revise
My practical experience tells me, never easily claim that you do not like something before you truly understand it.
During my childhood, I was not a fan of Bach. I just couldn't feel the beauty of the music, and didn't get the meaning of it at all, so I announced that I do not like Bach and I was not going to touch it unless somebody forces me too. (Later on it turned out that 'somebody' appeared in the form of the Academy end of year exam, and afterwards I threw my Bach Partita book on top of the shelf and never bother to have another glimpse at it since my 3rd year undergraduate.) Yet here I am, practicing Bach French Suite voluntarily for hours and torturing my brain to memorise all the counterpoint for fun.
What happened? Is this a PTSD after doing a PhD? Or am I becoming a sadist?
Neither.
There are actually a few very good reasons for me doing a Bach.
1) Nearly all of my audiences demanded a Bach piece from time to time, and I have none;
2) Nearly all of my students showed their interests in Bach and asked me if I could play any, and I told them NO;
3) Nearly all of my colleagues and cooperative composers regarded Bach as their musical God, including my beloved Schumann who lived in the 19th century. It really gave them a shock when I declared that I don't like Bach at all, which almost turned a few very good friends into my nemesis.
However, despite all of the above objective reasons, there is a subjective reasons which I consider as the most of all:
It washed my spirit during the darkest period of the pandemic and I wondered how Bach has done it to me.
That's why I picked a light and quite blissful one in G major from the French Suite, thinking that I would just taste it a little for one more time.
After all, it might be my ignorance that results in the unnecessary dislike towards Bach's music.
And it turns out to be the truth.
At the beginning I still couldn't get what it means, and practicing it became the most reluctant part of my piano hours. I knew I have to do it, but I just couldn't get it. When you are constantly creating something that even yourself have absolutely no ideas what you are making, it can hardly become a very enjoyable experience. I didn't understand the melody, and the phrasings were confusing me as well. Suddenly I felt like I dropped back to the old me before my undergraduate years, having independent and flexible fingers to press down all the keys clearly without knowing why I am pressing them down. I knew this is not going to work, so I searched for help.
And I found a Murray Perahia Masterclass talking the French Suite No.5.
Link is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CNu7sPOmBk
After watching it, the enlightenment suddenly dawns on me.
1) Bach makes his music sound like chorale, and that explains why there are so many different voices coming in at different time, aiming for driving me insane. Therefore, lyrical line of each voice plays a vital role in the performance;
2) Bach indicates his expression by harmonic structure. Building up tension when modulating to a special minor key and relieving to peace when getting back to dominant or tonic. The shape of each phrase is accountable, based upon basic harmonic knowledge (about which I have to admit that I am super ignorant)
3) Bach uses the rhythmic characteristics of different type of dances to put spirit into the music, giving the music directions and a sense of flow.
Trust me, when you achieve these three points all at once, even not that perfect yet, you would do nothing other than uttering a "WOW".
It is hard, of course, and I am still learning and discovering. But the music begins to deliver such a blessedness to me, compelling me to repeat subconsciously for nearly two hours.
I am only understanding a tip of iceberg about this genius, and he has already done some magic to me.
I cannot wait to explore more.
So, look here.
My opening point is approved.
If you want to say you do not like something --
Understand it first!
Otherwise you may miss a paradise!
How about making Bach my next reprogramming victim?
Seriously pondering...
😵😵😵
Wish everyone had a happy practice like me today.
Good night.
XinRu in London
who is determined to start relearning harmony
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