Can YOU guess the correct way to play this Bach piece?

@yourpianobestie

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3 videos

Why it worked

The video taps into a common debate among musicians about interpretation, presenting a nuanced answer that validates multiple approaches. It uses engaging visuals and clear explanations to educate viewers, encouraging interaction through a call to action in the comments.

Summary

The video explains that there are multiple valid ways to interpret and play Bach's music, challenging the idea of a single 'correct' way. It highlights that historical sources suggest varied articulation is key, and performers have historically improvised their interpretations.

Structure

1Introduce the question of playing Bach correctly
2Showcase two different pianists' interpretations
3Reveal that both interpretations are valid
4Explain the concept of different schools of thought and historical improvisation

Original caption

Who is playing Bach correctly? The answer is... 👀 Don't forget to like the video ♥️ and save for later! If this was helpful, follow me your piano bestie for more piano tips like this every day so you can also play like a pro! ✨ For my works, services and lessons, please visit www.yourpianobestie.com or link in bio 🔗 #piano #practice #pianotips #pianopractice #pianolessons

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Product placement

Bach (composer) - music composer; Vikingur Ólafsson (pianist) - plays piano music; Rousseau (pianist) - plays piano music; Henle Urtext - publisher of sheet music; Bach's first Well Tempered Clavier (musical work) - a piece of music; Rode (microphone brand) - appears as a watermark on the microphone; YourPianoBestie.com (website) - offers piano works, services, and lessons; ctp.gg (link aggregator) - redirects to a profile page

Call to action

Let us know in the comments

On-screen text

Can YOU guess the correct way to play this Bach piece? WHICH OF THESE PIANISTS IS PLAYING BACH CORRECTLY IS IT THIS ONE Vikingur Ólafsson OR IS IT THIS ONE Rousseau TAKE YOUR PICK BECAUSE THE ANSWER IS ALL OF NONE OF THEM LET ME EXPLAIN THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ON HOW TO PLAY BACH FOR EXAMPLE THE TEXT I'M SHOWING HERE IS FROM HENLE'S URTEXT VERSION OF BACH'S FIRST WELL TEMPERED CLAVIER :) LEGATO CONNECTED ALMOST AS IF THEY WERE SINGING BUT AS A RESPONSE TO THIS THEN CAME MANY PERFORMERS WHO WENT IN THE OPPOSITE EXTREME AND PLAYED MUCH MORE DETACHED MORE STACCATO THAT'S ONE REASON WHY RECORDINGS OF THE SAME PIECE CAN SOUND COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LIKE POLAR OPPOSITES THING IF YOU ONLY PLAYED A BACH PIECE ALL LEGATO OR ALL STACCATO FROM START TO FINISH THAT PROBABLY WOULD BE INCORRECT BECAUSE HISTORICAL SOURCES REPEATEDLY THAT BAROQUE MUSIC REQUIRES VARIED ARTICULATION AND NOT UNIFORM SO FOR EXAMPLE YOU CAN DO LEGATO AND STACCATO YOU CAN ALSO HAVE A COMBINATION OF STACCATOS AND SLURS IN DIFFERENT PLACES AND NONE OF THESE ARE WRONG BECAUSE THE CHOICE IS YOURS PERFORMERS BACK THEN WERE EXPECTED TO IMPROVISE THE ARTICULATION AND IN FACT IMPROVISATION AS A SKILL IN GENERAL LIKE WITH FIGURED BASS OR BASSO CONTINUO WAS A CORE COMPONENT OF HOLISTIC MUSICIANShip SO THE NEXT TIME YOU HEAR A BACH RECORDING JUST KNOW YOU'RE HEARING ONE WAY TO PLAY IT THE ONLY WAY HOW YOUR BACH PLAYED LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS

Transcript

Which of these pianists is playing Bach correctly is it this one Vikingur Ólafsson or is it this one Rousseau take your pick because the answer is all of none of them let me explain there are many different schools of thought on how to play Bach for example the text I'm showing here is from Henle's Urtext version of Bach's first Well Tempered Clavier :) legato connected almost as if they were singing but as a response to this then came many performers who went in the opposite extreme and played much more detached more staccato that's one reason why recordings of the same piece can sound completely different like polar opposites thing if you only played a Bach piece all legato or all staccato from start to finish that probably would be incorrect because historical sources repeatedly that Baroque music requires varied articulation and not uniform so for example you can do legato and staccato you can also have a combination of staccatos and slurs in different places and none of these are wrong because the choice is yours performers back then were expected to improvise the articulation and in fact improvisation as a skill in general like with figured bass or basso continuo was a core component of holistic musicianship so the next time you hear a Bach recording just know you're hearing one way to play it the only way how your Bach played let us know in the comments