Me playing BWV 555 Fugue. What do you think?

[Ntalikeris666]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImaEqoOlNAE&fmt=18

I know its NOT perfect but recording a piece is not such an easy task :P

[musicalis]

As you said it's not so easy, but you play it very well and you have a good video quality.

[wljmrbill]

You are getting there.. a few phrasing problems I can hear. Tempo is about right maybe a tad faster would be better I think. This fugue can also be played with some alternate manual work as well as being played on the great alone. I use the Widor-Schweitzer edition. There is an interesting discussion for playing this piece. If you do not have it..let me know and I will sent you a copy(or post it here) of the short discussion. Keep up the good work my friend....Bill

[Ntalikeris666]

You are getting there.. a few phrasing problems I can hear. Tempo is about right maybe a tad faster would be better I think. This fugue can also be played with some alternate manual work as well as being played on the great alone. I use the Widor-Schweitzer edition. There is an interesting discussion for playing this piece. If you do not have it..let me know and I will sent you a copy(or post it here) of the short discussion. Keep up the good work my friend....Bill

Yea as i said, its not my best performance, since its difficult to keep my natural playing when recording :-/

It would be great if you sent me that!

Regards,
Nick.

[Ghekorg7]

Γειά σου Νταλικιέρη μου !! Μόλις σε είδα στο γιού τιούμπ. Μου άρεσε το παίξιμο σου, πειθαρχία, συγκέντρωση... όλα ο.κ. I write first in Greek 'cause we're fellow country men. Ok. I liked very much, especialy your dicipline in the form of 555 and your concentration on target. A few phrasing problems.. who have not done it..with more practice we get there. You must see me try to play Bvw561 fantasia/fugue in Am on my Yamaha EL900 with Hauptwerk free edition...Its a good start cosidering the limitations of its 20' short pedalboard.. how can one phrase fast on it ? Look forward to discuss with you soon. Γειά σου φίλε Νίκο!
Panos

[Krummhorn]

Hi Nick,

Nicely done ... and if it makes you feel better, I have the same problem when recording myself, too. The mere fact that it is being recorded always puts any performer "on edge" and in some cases hampers our true playing abilities.

Besides the phrasing issues and some "runaway" tempos with the 16th notes towards the end of the piece, you did just fine. Your technique looks spot on and your posture is quite correct. Very nice sounding organ, too - you are lucky to have that kind of instrument available for practice - I'm assuming this is in your home?

[Ghekorg7]

The same question I was to ask to. Is this organ at your home? If yes you're so lucky. Great work! Keep up playing Niko.

[Ntalikeris666]

Hi Nick,

Nicely done ... and if it makes you feel better, I have the same problem when recording myself, too. The mere fact that it is being recorded always puts any performer "on edge" and in some cases hampers our true playing abilities.

Besides the phrasing issues and some "runaway" tempos with the 16th notes towards the end of the piece, you did just fine. Your technique looks spot on and your posture is quite correct. Very nice sounding organ, too - you are lucky to have that kind of instrument available for practice - I'm assuming this is in your home?

Thanks a lot!

Yes i have noticed those spots as well. I am now working on a remake of that video with a little more revised version of the piece.

Yes the instrument is at my house by the way.

[wljmrbill]

Here is the discussion from "Suggestions for Performing the preludes and fugues" by Widor-Schweitzer on the Eight Little Preludes and Fugues of the First Master-Period.

i.e. the Fugue section for bwv 555: "It is not easy to settle the alternation of manuals for the Fugue.A good effect is obtained by going over to the second manual with the inner parts on the second quarter of measure 45, keeping the soprano on the great-manual till the first quarter in measure 48, and returning to the later with the two highest parts on the second eighth-note in measure 54, the tenor following them on the next eighth.

Some players like to go over to the second manual as early as measure 28, in doing which they first take the inner parts on the great-manual, and then( on the second beat) take them on the choir; while in the pedal they employ, up to measure 46, only 8 foot registers.

Other players prefer to do without any change of manual whatever in this fugue, conceiving the piece as flowing on in one continuous augmentation, which they endeavor to bring out by adding registers on the first quarter of measure 28,the first quarter of measure 39, and the first quarter of measure 54.

Another alternative is imaginable, in which, while equally rejecting a change of manuals, the player retires registers in measures 28,39 and 45 ( or throws off the manual couplers), returning to the original tone-power only with measure 54.

Opinions are likewise divided with regard to the registration. Ought we to play the fugue with foundation stops alone, or may we employ mixtures and reeds during its course? The decision depends on our conception of the theme,some leaning toward a lyrical interpretation, while others to a loftier characterization. "

Hope this helps you out your interpretation. Good luck, Bill

[Ntalikeris666]

Γειά σου Νταλικιέρη μου !! Μόλις σε είδα στο γιού τιούμπ. Μου άρεσε το παίξιμο σου, πειθαρχία, συγκέντρωση... όλα ο.κ. I write first in Greek 'cause we're fellow country men. Ok. I liked very much, especialy your dicipline in the form of 555 and your concentration on target. A few phrasing problems.. who have not done it..with more practice we get there. You must see me try to play Bvw561 fantasia/fugue in Am on my Yamaha EL900 with Hauptwerk free edition...Its a good start cosidering the limitations of its 20' short pedalboard.. how can one phrase fast on it ? Look forward to discuss with you soon. Γειά σου φίλε Νίκο!
Panos

Γεια σου ρε Πάνο! Τα υπόλιπα στα Αγγλικα...
Thanks a lot ;-) Yea i am now recording another version of the piece, and i might use a little more proffesional equipment for the recording. (My father is a sound engineer so i can take advantage of that )
One thing i want to make better is the Thrills in some parts. I think that i have over used them actually, and i feel that it would be better just to emphasize on some spots to make them better.
Yes indeed a 20 note pedalboard cant be compared with a full one.

And by the way , yes the organ is at my house :-D

[Ntalikeris666]

Here is the discussion from "Suggestions for Performing the preludes and fugues" by Widor-Schweitzer on the Eight Little Preludes and Fugues of the First Master-Period.

i.e. the Fugue section for bwv 555: "It is not easy to settle the alternation of manuals for the Fugue.A good effect is obtained by going over to the second manual with the inner parts on the second quarter of measure 45, keeping the soprano on the great-manual till the first quarter in measure 48, and returning to the later with the two highest parts on the second eighth-note in measure 54, the tenor following them on the next eighth.

Some players like to go over to the second manual as early as measure 28, in doing which they first take the inner parts on the great-manual, and then( on the second beat) take them on the choir; while in the pedal they employ, up to measure 46, only 8 foot registers.

Other players prefer to do without any change of manual whatever in this fugue, conceiving the piece as flowing on in one continuous augmentation, which they endeavor to bring out by adding registers on the first quarter of measure 28,the first quarter of measure 39, and the first quarter of measure 54.

Another alternative is imaginable, in which, while equally rejecting a change of manuals, the player retires registers in measures 28,39 and 45 ( or throws off the manual couplers), returning to the original tone-power only with measure 54.

Opinions are likewise divided with regard to the registration. Ought we to play the fugue with foundation stops alone, or may we employ mixtures and reeds during its course? The decision depends on our conception of the theme,some leaning toward a lyrical interpretation, while others to a loftier characterization. "

Hope this helps you out your interpretation. Good luck, Bill

Its indeed quite an interesting point of view, (though quite far from what for now i have been playing). Really, i had never thought of switching manuals on this piece. Though i will try and make one version similar to what explained in the Widor suggestions.
As for the registration, personally i usually play it with a plenum and a 16 and 8 foot principal on the pedals with the great coupled to it as well. That because i want to make it sound different from the prelude which is much softer. The use of the reed on the pedals depends on how you want to interperet the piece. A more eccentric approach would be the Trumpet 8 on the pedals, but still something screams in me that the whole piece becomes a lot different than what i want it to be. I will upload some refined versions as well.

Thanks a lot for the tips,
Nicholas

[Contratrombone64]

I think your playing is sensitive and beautiful. A lovely organ too, by the way. Where is it?

[Ntalikeris666]

I think your playing is sensitive and beautiful. A lovely organ too, by the way. Where is it?

Thanks a lot.

The organ is at my house (its a Digital one of course)

[Contratrombone64]

Ntalikeris666, wonderful I look forward to more recording of your lovely playing. Maybe you might provide more details about your house organ? A specification would be interesting (to me at least).

[Ntalikeris666]

Ntalikeris666, wonderful I look forward to more recording of your lovely playing. Maybe you might provide more details about your house organ? A specification would be interesting (to me at least).

Thanks for your kind comments.
Sure! the organ is a Content Mondri 5800:
Here is its disposition:

http://www.contentorgels.nl/admin/as...dri%205800.pdf

Also it has Wooden Drawstops with led indication above them and semi-wooden keyboards.