Last Monday I performed the J.S. Bach Aria BWV 988, from the Goldberg Variations. It wasn't a train wreck, but it didn't go quite as I had hoped.

I'm sure many of you will relate to this video which shows the performance with a variety of humorous thought bubbles along the way:)

If this makes you laugh, smile or elicits any other emotions or reactions, please share. Let's have some fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ay9_MgkERY

Well, no; no train wreck, at all. I'd buy a ticket on that train.

Perhaps it wasn't the stellar performance we dream of but that may have been as much a function of the recording equipment as it was the performance itself. It came across as very 'monochromatic' as far as dynamics were concerned; it seemed all more or less at the same volume. That may have affected negatively on phrasing that you may have played more expressively than I heard.

I didn't watch with the score in hand, nor do I know the Aria from memory, but I commend you if that's the way you can handle memory slips!

This geek thanks you for identifying the piano; it's always interesting to know what's being played.

Now, for the thirty variations ....? Maybe you'll post those in the Member Recordings sub-forum (top of the Pianist Corner page)?

Regards,

Thanks! I'm glad you'd by a ticket on that train:)

Yes, on dynamics - the audio quality of the video camera is quite poor. I recorded it using dedicated mics as well w/hi rez audio and the dynamics and phrasing come out much better.

Thanks again for your comment.

Phil

I do not see where he identified the piano. Did I miss it, or are you being sarcastic? It's a Hamburg S&S D FWIW.

Anyway, Philip, I enjoyed the performance. Honestly, I don't know the Goldbergs well enough to have noticed any memory slips. Well done getting through them!

Phil H. -

I enjoyed the lower screen editorial comments (through which you identified the Steinway, etc.).

At least you were consistent with your memory slip...same place...same slip....and you covered extremely well. Nothing to be concerned about - and definitely not a train wreck.

Perhaps you are being a little too hard on yourself. It was a nice performance !!

Your screen comments reminded my why I don't miss playing by memory in public !!

Best -

Phil J.

Ok, I don't want to insult you, but this is what I have to say:
Put the emotions of your body into your hand. The piece, the way you performed it, is all one dynamic. Over emphasize the dynamics, not the movements of your body. I know you are nowhere near Langlang, but don't get any closer! Take Horowitz for example; everything in his fingers and almost nothing in his upper body - and he's considered one of the greatest.

Your mess-up was hardly noticeable. I've never heard the piece and would not have known, though it was a bit slow, I'm guessing that's the piece's tempo.

Most of the crowd wouldn't notice the goof-up, unless they are all music teachers . Last weekend I performed The Great Gates of Kiev, and had a memory slip like yours. I made up a few notes that sounded ok then went on (one thing I'm good at). Afterwards, another musician commented on how "perfect you played it." He had no clue - only me, my dad, and my teacher.

Hope I didn't blab too long.

Thanks for the kind words - much appreciated!

And yes, I do have a tendency to a be a bit hard on myself. The fact the I missed the same measure, twice - and that I never had a memory slip on that section of the piece before just reminded that anything can happen on stage regardless of how well you're prepared:)

Phil

As always, thanks for commenting on my post - glad the slips weren't as noticeable to you and hopefully the rest of the audience:)

This is really good, and much appreciated feedback.

On the body movements - I've tried to tame them - I need to do so further. But some of it is just how I play, at a subconscious level:)

On the dynamics - I'm hopeful that the flatness you are hearing is a result of the poor audio quality of my video camera. However, I will listen back to a higher quality recording I made very critically and ask my teacher what she heard in the concert hall. I take your feedback very constructively and seriously.

Thank you,

Phil

1) Apparently being hard on oneself is a trait shared by everyone named Phil.

2) Yes - anything can and DOES happen on stage. You just never know when its going to hit !!

3) And there's nothing wrong or distracting about your body movements!!!

PJ

Aha! See, I was listening most of the time and not watching. Thanks for pointing me right.

No problem! The pleasure is all mine.

I was trying to be subtle about it.....

Philip, From your playing it is certain that you love this piece of music. I could practically hear your brain working to bring out the beauty and gentleness. I got a clear sense that you play it beautifully when you are not under pressure.
Don't fret about the mistakes. You handled them masterfully and your overall playing was lovely.

I enjoyed your humorous comments. It is wonderful, refreshing and rare to see and hear a pianist who admits there is still something to learn.

Nice job!

Deborah, thank you so much for the kind words - you just put a spring in my step for the rest of the day. You are right, I truly love this piece. I'm so glad that it came across to you.

Have a wonderful weekend:)

Phil

Ha! Thanks Phil - and thx for the comment on the body movements - I wish I could have gotten a video angle in the hall that showed my hands - perhaps that would have synced up better with the movements. Nonetheless, I appreciate your support:)

Phil

sounds very nice..i do not think the mics do justice to your dynamics though...but you played with soul and to me that is most important

i am not sure if this helps...but have you heard this piece performed on another keyboard instrument?

it might help...it helped me..i can;t really explain how but i kinda settled on a balanced performance after playing it (many many years ago)on an organ, harpsichord, and clavichord....the clavichord is my favorite to play it on and then the piano....well hope this helps

All in all it was very enjoyable and you DID know what to do in an emergency (which was not jumping off the train).
So the train kept going and it very was nice...

Thanks for the comment and the nice words:)

That's a great comment - I would love to spend time with this piece on a harpsichord or clavichord. In fact, I may have that opportunity in the not too distant future. But I have listened to several harpsichord recordings by Albert Fuller and others and it does shift your perspective on the piece.

A question:

What is your favorite passage, measure and note.

Very good player. Excellent sense of humor.

If we all had your attitude!

Thanks for the kind words:)

The opening phrase, but I also love the counterpoint in the first 7 or 8 bars after the first repeat. There is so much you can with that, so many ways you can bring out the voices, etc.

My teacher can do amazing things with the lower voice in the left hand - it's quite remarkable.

Unless one really knew the score, your slips weren't noticeable. It's not as if you just sat there and stared at the keyboard or experimentally poked at some keys!

Thanks:) But up on stage they felt very noticeable to me. I appreciate your comment.

found these on youtube....it would be cool if you could practice on the other two instruments....i once had the luck of playing this aria on harpsichord, clavichord and piano aloooong time ago..it was fun

on clavichord: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAd5LRNwX...=1&index=29

on harpsichord: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItSUQGyxOpI

piano: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHiFjQwQGJk

i am still trying to find someone who has professionally recorded this piece on the above three instruments just ot see what they did different

Thank you for sharing these links - wow. That is the first time I watched and heard the Aria on a clavichord.

There is a museum in St. Paul, MN that has a playable selection of clavichords and harpsichords - I am now more motivated than ever to make the time to go and play them. I believe it's the Schubert Club museum.

My favorite harpsichord recording is by Albert Fuller - here's the Amazon link http://amzn.to/bM7gqa

Enjoy the weekend:)

Phil

Thanks everyone for the feedback on the performance - we did indeed have some fun with it:)

Very nice, dynamics aside (probably owing to poor audio on youtube, it d be interesting for you to compare the waves of the youtube audio and the higher quality recording you made), i quite liked it. That piano sounds very nice.

I think you did a great job, especially after the slips. I think you more than anyone else in the room noticed it.

Congratulations for the playing and the attitude.

Great job -- and I loved the captions.

I wouldn't have had any idea there was a memory lapse if you didn't mention it -- and to tell the truth, nothing caught my ear even with your talking about it and even with the help of the captions.

I agree about the dynamic range. Also I like it better with a mellower tone, but that's subjective.....

Exactly!

It's definitely NOT a train wreck. You didn't do too badly here. I did notice the memory slips (whether you realize it, or not there's one in the "A" section also), but then I've been playing the Goldbergs for 25 years. You didn't make things easy on yourself by choosing one of the best known pieces ever written, so don't be too hard on yourself. You have a good handle on things and with some patience and a LOT of LISTENING to yourself, you'll eventually feel completely in control of the introduction to the greatest set of variations ever penned.

Thanks for the feedback and the kind words:)

Thank you so much. Wow, 25 years! It's true, it is one of the best known pieces ever written.

Since the recital, I've given the piece a bit of a rest. I plan to return to it soon to bring some new learnings and ideas to it and to record it in the Hall w/proper camera angle and dedicated microphones.

Where did I have a memory slip in the A section - was it at the end of the cadence on the first repeat? Please enlighten me!

And again, thank you.

Phil

Thank you. I will go back and listen to the hi rez audio file and the dynamics. No sure If I'm ambitious enough today to compare the waves between the files though;)

Enjoy what's left of the weekend:)

Phil

As I work on the Chopin Concerto, I'm still amazed at how much more freedom Bach provides in terms of interpretive choices - ornaments, articulation, tempo, left hand voicing, etc.

It's ironic, so many people hear you say Bach and they think mathematical like precision when that is so far from the truth. I wish I would have had more maturity when I was a teenager (I started piano late) to fully understand the importance, freedom and beauty of Bach. I too was a blinded by this common stereotype. Well, I guarantee my 7yr old son won't be:)

Phil