Piano Literature I
MUSC 5325
Professor Korevaar


Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Reading:
Marshall 68-123 and the Hinson entry on Bach.
Try to be familiar with the assigned repertoire before each class.

September 16:
Dietrich Buxtehude (c1637-1707): A representative prelude: E minor, BuxWV 142 (CD 2 track 3)
Bach: Toccata in E minor BWV 914 (before 1713)
Capriccio on the Departure of his Beloved Brother BWV 992 (before 1713)

September 21:
Transcriptions of concertos by Italian masters BWV 972-987 (1713-14)
Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue (BWV 903) (as early as 1714?)
The Well-Tempered Clavier
Before class: pick one prelude and fugue from each book, listen to 3 different recordings (at least one not on piano, at least one on piano) of each, and write up your observations to turn in. I'm interested in your reactions to the performances, how approaches to choice of tempo, phrasing, etc., vary. Also, explore the website set up by Tim Smith at http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~tas3/wtc.html which includes all of the fugues of both books - look at the two fugues that you listened to for the recording assignment.


September 23 and 28:
Partita No. 4 in D major
Italian Concerto
Goldberg Variations (at least first 12 variations; be familiar with the structure of the work)
Read about and listen to Goldbergs at Tim Smith and my website:
http://bach.nau.edu/BWV988/

Questions you should know the answers to:
What is the Clavier Übung?
How do the French Suite, English Suite, and Partita differ? How are they the same? Do you think these general observations can be extrapolated to the other works in these classes? How many of each kind of work did Bach write? When?
How does the Italian Concerto get its name? What do the dynamic indications in the score mean? How do we know what instrument Bach wrote these two works for?