What are you playing now?

[Mik]

Sadly nothing. I haven't sat down all summer. Sigh.

[Horace]

I just listened to D664, it's beautiful. I wonder if I'll ever play another classical sonata. They are so much work.

[George K]

@Horace the first two movements aren’t all that difficult. For me, the hardest part was doing the octaves in the development section.

The third movement, on the other hand, is just ridiculous.

[kluurs]

I'm working on Bach's Art of Fugue, First Contrapunctus. The first few lines came along easily enough, and I thought "ah, I can hack this out in a couple of weeks." Then I got into the bramble of the work - and I've worked a couple of weeks just sorting through fingering for a few lines. It's coming along, but while a short piece, it's gonna be a slower slog than I imagined.

Link to video

[jon-nyc]

I've been hacking away at old (to me) stuff, but at least pretty regularly, when I'm not traveling. I need to adopt something meaty.

[George K]

I've put the Schubert D664 aside. I have the first two movements, pretty much, under my fingers. The third movement is a beast, and, frankly, it's just not fun to learn.

If it's not fun, screw it.

I suggested a couple of things to my teacher - Pictures at an Exhibition and the Mendelssohn Variations "Serious". There are parts of Pictures (the last few bars of Gnomus) that are just, for me, impossible, so, again, if it's not fun.

Ditto the Variations. Variation #4 is something I could probably learn - after a couple of months. Not worth the aggravation.

So, something more up to my level.

The Bach Partita #1 in Bb. I was wondering about the ornamenation in another thread. I've always loved this piece, and it's within my reach. The prelude is about 60% there.

I love Bach (not @bachophile of course).

[kluurs]

Glenn working through a bit of the 2nd partita.

Link to video

[bachophile]

@George-K said in What are you playing now?:

I love Bach (not @bachophile of course).

I said it before. Someone gots to hate me

[George K]

@George-K said in What are you playing now?:

The Bach Partita #1 in Bb. I was wondering about the ornamenation in another thread. I've always loved this piece, and it's within my reach.

Making progress. Prelude is mostly under my fingers - I can get through it without breakdown most of the time.

The Allemande is tricky, and my Henle edition has some atrocious fingering, making it all that more difficult - it’s an older (1970s) version. The A part is about 80% there, and I’ve started on the B section. A bit trickier than the A (especially at the end), but it’ll get there.

I love Bach’s music. He was such a wonderful craftsman.

ETA: The ornamentation in the prelude? I’ve decided to agree with what @Axtremus said - it’s supposed to be improvisational so I’m doing a turn, rather than a trill as indicated in the score. It fits my fingers niceley and allows me to keep the tempo, timing and rhythm going.

As Duke Ellington said, “If it sounds good, it is good.

[jon-nyc]

I need to engage a teacher again just to keep me focused.

I’m bouncing around between Schubert, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff.

[George K]

@jon-nyc said in What are you playing now?:

I need to engage a teacher again just to keep me focused.

It makes all the difference.

THe teacher I have now is the same one as I had when I returned to the piano (gasp) 19 years ago.

She is great for motivation, encouragement and engagement. Also, we interact, via text, when I encounter a problem.

I lesson every other week.

[George K]

@jon-nyc said in What are you playing now?:

I’m bouncing around between Schubert, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff.

Specifics?

[jon-nyc]

Schubert: Two of the Op 90 impromptus

Debussy: Pagodes and Clair de Lune

Rachmaninoff: Prelude 32/12 G#m, Etude 39/1 Am

[George K]

I've got the Prelude and Allemande of the Bb partita pretty much under my fingers. Like so many of the P&Fs from the WTC, I'm sure they'll go away within a week of no constant practice.

Starting the courente - that's tricky AF.

Also, inspired by @jon-nyc , I'm taking another look at the Schubert Op 90 #1. I played with it (not "played" it) a few years ago. Gonna put that on my plate.

[Horace]

Going to do a recital in a few weeks, brahms 118.2 followed by the c#m fugue from WTC1. Recorded it yesterday for my youtube subscribers.

Link to video

[Mik]

Very nice. I'm one of those weirdos that actually likes recitals.

[Horace]

I'm looking forward to the recital. It'll be at a church, so the piano and acoustics should be good. I think the other players will be kids mostly, but hopefully some other adults. My teacher has other adults in his studio, but he's not sure if they'll be playing.

[Klaus]

@Horace Very nice playing! I thought that those wolves that kick in around 5:00 were a particularly nice addition to the piece!

[Horace]

@Klaus Thanks! That dog always sings along when the piano gets loud.

[Renauda]

Well played, Horace.