My Recording of a Prelude and Fugue

Well I figure it's time to share something with you guys after everything I've gotten out of this forum.

I am working on the first prelude and fugue from the second book of the WTC, and I was just so astounded by it that I had to share it!

This is by NO MEANS DONE. I've had the prelude for a week and a half and I started the fugue exactly a week ago. I made a bunch of mistakes (they should be painfully obvious) but I hope the spirit of this absolutely incredible peice shines through and that at least someone will get some enjoyment out of it. Isn't that what it's about after all?

I still don't understand how someone can write something like this...it's almost a religious experience trying to convey the meaning of the peice. Just absolutely incredible. Shut your eyes and listen - how did he do that?

I can't wait until I can do it justice.

Here it is:

http://www.box.net/shared/ad15rhvra5

Edit: Just because it's not done, don't be afraid to comment/criticize!

Very nice! Thanks for sharing.

Lstening to it again I really need to seperate the top two voices more in the right hand in the second system of the first page in the fugue. I did a better job of it the second time that material appeared.

And then there's the the fact that my tempo reminds me of a yo-yo!

The Prelude starts out with a very nice tone and energy, but when you descrescendo, it also loses the vitality and slows down a bit too, which probably adds to the feeling of losing the energy. I do like the give and take in your tempo, which shows you are sensitive to the phrases.

For the Fugue, I think you do a great job of bringing out the subject. Maybe pull back a bit in the other voices so that they don't have to compete as much. But overall, you're doing a fine job on this!

While recording is one of the best teaching tools to highlight ones difficulties and point out inconsistencies in ones playing, would you not do yourself better justice if you waited until you had the piece up to a level that you are really satisified with? That way you could make the piece shine through your own strengths rather than wondering whether it will "shine through" your "bunch of mistakes."

This comment is not meant to belittle what you already have accomplished but I would rather wait to hear what you can do with this when you feel you have it well in your fingers and in your mind.

Regards,