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Playing Eight Little Preludes and Fugues

AllanP

AllanP

New member
What are the different styles of playing these pieces. Today my teacher was using the Prelude in C Major as an example in harmony. She played the 16th note figures detached. She studied with Richard Purvis at Grace cathedral which has serious reverbration so that playing detached has become a habit. I noted that the detached playing makes the sound "lighter" rather than a legato touch which an earlier teacher used.

What are the trade-offs in varying the touch? At home, there is little reverbration, so the more detached way of playing is not necessary but seems to add emphasis to the notes. My home pipe organ is very quick speaking, so any irregularity in my playing shows up. Is it more difficult to play detached without getting the spaces irregular?

I am looking for opinions from forum participants. Thanks for any opinions you may care to express.

Allan
 
Krummhorn

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
I was taught (studied with Charles Shaffer) to play it legato, but with a lighter touch so as to keep the changing notes from laboring, if that makes sense, to keep the piece bright and cheery.

There have been times, in a very live building, that I've had to slightly detach the notes so as to prevent the running notes from becoming mush to the listener. The church pipe organ I play regularly is situated in a very acoustically dead building - the sound just about stops before I take my hands off the keys.
 
wljmrbill

wljmrbill

Member
You bring up a very good point and one my favorite arguments for interpretation of music i.e. tempo and legato vs detached....... How does the organ function in it's enviorment..I too was trained to play them more legato then detached.. some times I believe it has to be played detached as I agree it soon ( as many peices) turns to mush really fast if you are trying to listen to the music in a "live" room. Have to vary and adjust to acheive the best performance of the composition. One reason I feel many organ pieces are played way.. way to fast considering the circumstances surroundling the author and his instrument used. hence the conflicts with Widor Toccata's as well as Bach etc etc.
 
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