Tutorial: BACH Little Prelude in C Minor BWV 999

Рет қаралды 21,893

Жыл бұрын

This comprehensive lesson will help you to master one of my favourite pieces by Bach, Little Prelude No.3 BWV999, suitable for late beginners and early intermediate students.
There are many different ways to interpret Bach, but in this video I show you one of the most widely spread approaches to interpret Bach on a modern piano. Before experimenting with any staccato-oriented approaches, I would recommend to first master the way of playing featured in the video.
Check out a course on Hanon exercises that will guide you through the most important aspects of piano playing: bit.ly/ManyPianoTips
0:38 Demonstration
1:49 Harmonic Skeleton
10:42 Playing Efficiency/Musicality
15:45 Building the interpretation
19:08 General tip about playing Bach
My 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀: bit.ly/skillsandmagic
My 𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬: bit.ly/DenTutorials
My 𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐨 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨𝐬: bit.ly/DenPlaysPiano
To 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻-𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻:
deniszhdanov.com/lessons
Your support matters! If you enjoy this channel or find it helpful, please consider a symbolic donation. It would help me to create even better both educational and artistic content.
𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐎𝐍: bit.ly/supportingcats
𝐎𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐔𝐘 𝐌𝐄 𝐀 𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐊! paypal.me/denzhdanovpianist

Пікірлер: 88

@eddygonzalez2328 23 күн бұрын

I appreciate those who produce educational music lessons. Having said that, I personally think this prelude should be played just a bit slower. I know it will sound a little slow for Bach, but considering the instrument of the period and purpose, he would have probably wanted it played a bit slower.

@user-nv2wt4hi8t 7 ай бұрын

I love how immediately Denis transitioned from calmly explaining something more abstract like visualisation to committing full tilt to performing the prelude. Mastery at work.

@fifibg 7 ай бұрын

RIGHT!!!! he was just instantly immersed

@tiamat1628 Жыл бұрын

You are not just a good teacher, you are also a great performer.

@kristinamusik7414 Жыл бұрын

Its beautiful. The ”funny ” thing. I worked in a church in Sweden for more than, four decades. (Im a teacher, not a musician) and we love Bach. The time they are changing. I hope he knows if that is possible.

@tia904 Жыл бұрын

Beautifully and professionally done.

@cherevko_anastasiia 7 ай бұрын

Ви чудовий викладач. Дякую ❤

@MadMax300173 Жыл бұрын

What a fantastic lesson with so many great tips! Not just on practice structure (which one might have seen elsewhere and experimented with), but also with so many professional tips on efficiency of playing, releasing of fingers, hand shapes, and even some precious baroque stylistic suggestions. You barely ever find such a thorough tutorial in youtube. I also loved the attention you gave to the LH rests in your explanation; I think the way you verbalized it really sticks. I wish I had seen this video when I studied this piece a couple of years back. Nevertheless it still gave me a lot of food for thought.

@user-lp3yp4yo3w Жыл бұрын

Спасибо, очень полезный разбор и понятные объяснения!

@iwonajimenez4666 Жыл бұрын

Excellente analyse harmonique, un vrai support pour jouer cette pièce. Merci mille fois.

@a.dselinger9291 Жыл бұрын

This is a great in-depth lesson. Many thanks.

@thomasmiranda3800 Жыл бұрын

Sir you are Genius. You evaluate the pieces from the grassroot level to it's utmost beauty. Thank you Almighty providing such a great person Dennis, during our existence in this world. I learnt lot of things regarding musicality from him. May God grant him long life, happiness and prosperity throughout his life.❤

@DenZhdanovPianist Жыл бұрын

Thank you and God bless you on your path!

@jaxobophiuchi676 8 ай бұрын

Thank you, first for the opportunity to close eyes and take in the sonic/emotional landscape of this piece. As I learn it, the vision of holy chordal waves (spirit) purifying and unifying the busy work of the upper register (mind) will reside ever-present in my heart. I’m not a religious man, but Bach’s music opens the soul to an undeniable splendor…beauty appears as the voice of the heart…pardon…never has an instructor asked this of me. I can’t wait to learn this piece that such force may be invoked and it’s waves rode home.

@ayyappanmusic 11 ай бұрын

The look into the camera at 6:12 is FIRE - great lesson!!!! Thank you

@Jimmy.Williams 4 ай бұрын

Excellent analysis, thanks. I didn't realize at 7:10 that this was the German Augmented Sixth chord to Gm (new key it's modulating to) until you played it and paused the notes and verbally expressed how important this chord was in the song. Also the reference to the pedal tones as a function (opposed to analyzing the crazy chords made up by all of the notes) was helpful in a few spots. Thanks!!!

@DenZhdanovPianist 4 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for commenting!

@BubnHubn 5 ай бұрын

Thanks,great

@ozcan999can2 Жыл бұрын

you teach realy pedagogic , i learnt so many thing from you.. thank you master pianist.

@TheBlackD Жыл бұрын

Looks like a great lesson ! I have been learning that piece for a few weeks now and it is not easy at all :)

@familysounds Жыл бұрын

Wonderfull! I'm learning and progressing. Please make more tutorials for The little preludes and other more accessible Bach pieces. Thank u!

@pianistjustforfun Жыл бұрын

Thanks, that´s very clear and detailed! Nice augmented 6th chord at 7:15.

@audreyqrncs1241 Жыл бұрын

Pour moi, c’est la transcription musicale parfaite d’une pensée interne : quand vous laissez votre esprit voyager, que tout se mélange, c’est cyclique, imprévisible, répétitif, égarant, variable et puis soudainement, quelque chose vient vous sortir de cet état et c’est fini.

@tomlabooks3263 5 ай бұрын

Excellent video!! Congrats and Thank you 🙏🏻

@DenZhdanovPianist 5 ай бұрын

Thank you too!

@LiliVG 5 ай бұрын

Wonderful musical teaching moment. I actually listened three times to make sure I absorbed as much as possible. Beautiful, short piece that I never learned and this is what I am doing now. In closing my eyes I visualized sparkling pure mountain water going down a fast moving stream. Here and there I saw a curve but the water kept on going down stream to its final destination. Why I saw water I don’t know. This is what the music evoked for me.

@DenZhdanovPianist 5 ай бұрын

That’s great, associations are your best friends when working on music, what comes spontaneously to your mind is usually a key to the essence of a piece!

@pierocanova9470 Жыл бұрын

Merci beaucoup pour cette leçon professeur

@nassimsaberi7607 7 ай бұрын

I practice this peice of Bach ..Thats video was very very usefull for me👌

@RolandHuettmann Жыл бұрын

Excellent lesson. It was one of my first pieces playing Bach. I think, learning the piece requires slow practice for some time, right? Regarding Bach in general: His music has an effect on my mood, brings you out of depression, fatigue,, opens the mind to more life, more joyfulness. Of course, this also happens with this piece, especially in practice.

@homamellersh8446 9 ай бұрын

That is beautiful, also like your humorous inputs . Thank you.

@AAnilSahin Жыл бұрын

Çok teşekkürler... Thank you very very much. As a self-taught amateur, I was feeling a bit afraid of trying this piece. Now, I am going to my piano to start rehearsing :)

@m.walther6434 Жыл бұрын

Thank You verry much. This piece is originally for Lute, and as often, I find the perfomance to fast. Regarding 'exotic harmonies', Bach has once been reprimanted for having iron in his ears.

@DenZhdanovPianist Жыл бұрын

Bach was also famous for playing everything in crazily fast tempi. I can easily imagine him to be bored to death with lute tempi folks already around bar 2.

@m.walther6434 Жыл бұрын

@@DenZhdanovPianist Maybe, I don't know. But the 17th century has been slower in general, I dare say, when a running horse was the fastest thing you could imagine.And the all these dances with those elaborated steps, complicated garmends and hairdresses. Anyway, a very good introduction, thank You again. I appreciate Your chanel very much. Locking forward to the next episode.

@Seenall Жыл бұрын

You just casually dropped my new favorite performance of this piece in a tutorial lol

@DenZhdanovPianist Жыл бұрын

😊

@martynrobinson5399 4 ай бұрын

Theory well above my ability but when I closed eyes and allowed impression! : Buiild up to a storm at sea, rising and falling waves with a deep oceanic swell underneath. Then the sunshine, all safe. Nice!!

@ottofresk8547 Жыл бұрын

When can we expect the Chopin Op . 58 sonata video Denis? I'm very excited!

@DenZhdanovPianist Жыл бұрын

The complete 2.5 hour course is already published on Teachable. A shorter KZfaq video with tricks for the most difficult spots coming on Saturday

@edutwin Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this detailed breakdown. Enjoy the drink 🍺

@DenZhdanovPianist Жыл бұрын

Thank you Micha!💙💙💙

@scottweaverphotovideo Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this video! Have you, or could you create a video on learning Jeux d'eau?

@DenZhdanovPianist Жыл бұрын

One day I will, but likely not soon!

@scottweaverphotovideo Жыл бұрын

@@DenZhdanovPianist but I'm studying it now. 😅

@seanpalmiano6154 Жыл бұрын

Hi! This became one of my favorite pieces when I learned it yeeeeaars ago. I enjoy playing it because of the pulse. One thing that I found brilliant was that even though the time signature is 3/4, you don't really feel that it is in 3/4... do I make sense? I tried experimenting by exaggerating and playing with accent the notes that fell on the regular beat (e.g. in the 1st bar C, Eb, and G) it just seemed unnatural. The exciting and unusual pulse simply fell into place naturally when you play it. Thank you very much for featuring this music and for the valuable lesson. Cheers!

@DenZhdanovPianist Жыл бұрын

I would rather feel actively 8 and 16 notes pulse here, as demonstrated in video; as it often happens in Bach thinking in quarter beats only damages musical flow.

@neriomorenove 29 күн бұрын

Great. For me this sounds more like a Etude.

@philipbrown2225 Жыл бұрын

makes me feel everything is going to be ok

@DenZhdanovPianist Жыл бұрын

Well I bet we all will die at some point, but apart of that I truly believe everything will be great!

@benjamonpookoo2741 Жыл бұрын

I don’t know a piece that finishes on the dominant, but the gigue at the end of the English suite in D minor ends on the tonic chord, but is harmonically prepared in a way where it feels like an abrupt stop on a V chord. It’s been a while since I played the piece so I can’t remember the harmony, but certainly my ear has always heard the end of that gigue in a very strange way where it really does not feel like we’ve landed on the final (major) tonic, but rather the V of G minor. Perhaps it’s just my ears, but it’s fascinating to me how the final D chord in the suite feels like it’s about to fall into G minor - like stopping on a ski slope just before the cliff edge haha

@DenZhdanovPianist Жыл бұрын

Oh that’s an interesting example. G minor is promoted so much during the last page, that we might start to perceive it as a tonal center; yeah, now I remember that I also had this impression. It makes it a bit tricky to interpret, because one would want to provide an epic ultimate ending in that piece, but the end feels like just running out of bullets in the middle of a battle😂.

@aostensv Жыл бұрын

Thank you for a great tutorial! Question: you suggest using fingers 2 and 3 for the notes in beat 3 for the right hand, but when you perform you use the thumb. Is this because at fast speed there is not enough time to change the hand position? When would you recommend one over the other?

@DenZhdanovPianist Жыл бұрын

Simply at my level with such pieces it doesn’t matter so I play with random fingers. But if the piece is not too easy for you, it’s important to stick to one fingering option. However any fingering suggestion is individual, so please treat my or any other suggestions as mild suggestions only.

@aostensv Жыл бұрын

@Denis Zhdanov Thank you again!

@ananthd4797 Жыл бұрын

Been struggling with Bach recently, it's hard to play well and especially hard to impossible to please a layman audience! A video suggestion: it would be interesting to hear your ideas on how to assess the level of a piece and whether you're ready for it. Some people do ABRSM grades in order, some people never try pieces too hard, some are always stretching themselves too much, but the best method often comes up in discussions. It would be interesting to hear your thoughts.

@DenZhdanovPianist Жыл бұрын

It’s not something I can generalize. Each person is unique in that regard. Some must challenge themselves otherwise they get bored and stop growing, and some get easily frustrated by the smallest challenge. It has much more to do with psychology. For example the best way to motivate my wife is to say her “you will never be able to do that!”

@ananthd4797 Жыл бұрын

@@DenZhdanovPianist That makes sense. I'm thinking something along the lines of how skills build and develop over time, and how to plan for that. But I understand that may also be too individual.

@r.j4449 Жыл бұрын

Could you tell me what you are using to read the sheet music? what device? Thank you.

@DenZhdanovPianist Жыл бұрын

Ipad + ForScore

@r.j4449 Жыл бұрын

@@DenZhdanovPianist Thanks, is it big enough to read well? It looks though. What Ipad by the way? sorry for so many questions 😆I´m looking something like this.

@DenZhdanovPianist Жыл бұрын

Just take the biggest. I think 12.9’ or so. It is of A4 paper size, perfect. On the newer versions u can also use “gestures” to turn pages hands-free. I use the pedal since I got an older refurbished model.

@r.j4449 Жыл бұрын

@@DenZhdanovPianist Thank u, very kind!

@painetcirque5695 4 ай бұрын

min 5..in parts, immediately.. succesivelly.

@alzhang74 Жыл бұрын

why you use finger 3 and 2 for the repeated notes in right hand in beat 3? why not finger 1/1 or 2/2? thanks!

@DenZhdanovPianist Жыл бұрын

Often we prefer to change fingers for repeated notes, it helps to release the hand between them, and it’s easier to avoid accents and clumsiness. However if this piece is played in a modest tempo, it’s not necessary.

@alzhang74 Жыл бұрын

@@DenZhdanovPianist I very much like your tutorial on this piece which tackled with most challenges. One more question.: why you suggest going up not horizontal for the leaps? I feel it's more efficient move horizontally and less chance to miss the notes. Also do you mean move up for all the leaps or just the leaps in this piece?

@ev_lefravi 4 ай бұрын

Это прелюдия или гонки Формула 1? Баха очень приятно слушать, как ноты и гармонии переходят в друг друга, но при таком темпе это становится невозможным.

@DenZhdanovPianist 4 ай бұрын

Not everyone is given the gift of perceptual flexibility. «Приятно слушать» - это аматорский подход.

@ev_lefravi 4 ай бұрын

@@DenZhdanovPianist а что, профессиональному музыканту не может быть приятно просто слушать музыку? Я не слышу в Вашем исполнении ни полифонии, ни чувственного наполнения (не забывайте про духовные основы творчества Баха). Послушайте себя со стороны, Вы и в речи бегло говорите. Суетливость и Бах это противоположные явления.

@domcoke 4 ай бұрын

I don't understand why the bass quavers are played staccato, and not legato. Is it to replicate the harpsichord? Or is it to not create a disconnect when jumping to the bass note? Every recording I've heard plays them staccato in the same way you do.

@DenZhdanovPianist 4 ай бұрын

Traditions. If you really want to get an idea about stylistic aspects of Baroque interpretation and how much sophisticated they are, then not just watch YT, but dig into relevant papers on JSTOR and Scribd.

@domcoke 4 ай бұрын

@@DenZhdanovPianist It's an interesting subject area, and I think I might have expected you would, in your video, accounted for why you were playing notes in a style that wasn't marked on the score as such. You obviously have an engrained knowledge of what is considered the traditional way of playing in the baroque style - but it's perhaps an assumption that people watching your videos would know this. I also think there is an interesting conversation to be had about what is "orthodoxy" within the playing of pieces from particular periods, and when this actually is "correct" - is there room for revisionist interpretations that are not slave to the perceived orthodoxies of music interpretation. With different schools of thought. Rachel Podger [or indeed Trevor Pinnock] vs Hillary Hahn [to use a violin example]

@aquilino1984 Жыл бұрын

It's a grade 7 piece on classical guitar.

@kaiichionese2011 Жыл бұрын

hi teacher ,how can we understand that bach music has 2 voices or 3 voices or 4 voices? I want to study bach music with 2 voices but I don't know which ones can you help me :(

@RolandHuettmann Жыл бұрын

Inventions of Bach... two voices. There are many other pieces from Bach. Better to learn basics with a personal teacher (Denis here is one...) since there are many small details that should be done right from the beginning, and I promise, it will be much more fun.

@kaiichionese2011 Жыл бұрын

@@RolandHuettmann i think i need some more information about this i still don't understand.Unfortunately, I do not have the opportunity to receive training from a professional trainer. luckily, denis is here, thanks

@m.walther6434 Жыл бұрын

@@kaiichionese2011 1. You must think in voices not in chords. In Barock Music, different voices define the harmony. 2. The base is allways the fundament, so watch how the other voice(es) relates to the base. Are they dependent or independent? This piece f.e. is in two voices.

@RolandHuettmann Жыл бұрын

If you can read musical scores, notes, the notes have a stem, up or down. Mostly, the upper voice stems are up, the lower voice stems are down. So, when there are two voices then there are two singers, and each one sings his or her melody. On the piano or any keyboard instrument, we can play such different voices. Even we can "voice" the sound so that they come out distinctly. A Canon is a good example of different voices singing the same melody but starting one after the other.

@georgeabraham4285 Жыл бұрын

..for the first billion years the moon went: " aaaAAAAAAH!".. The next billion years it went: "OOOOOH!!"... well eventially thats just how the moon rolls... its intense.. but it goes round and round like that..

@Bova13 6 ай бұрын

This is a great lesson, I really liked the way you explain and break down the partitura, but, why does pianist always play it so fast? It losses all the emotion and the sense of the piece. When you hear it on a lute or a harpsichord (the original instruments for what where created) the feelling is soooo diferent, the interpretation and the tempo. As a pianist and teacher my self, I always recomend my students to play it slow, like if it was a lute and the inner melody on the right hand as if they were singing. Just my point of view, any way. Cheers.

@DenZhdanovPianist 6 ай бұрын

Certainly, pianists often lean toward faster tempos in pieces like this for various reasons. One, as Horowitz aptly put it, is simply "because I can." Another lies in the sheer enjoyment derived from playing at a brisk pace. While renditions like Argerich's Capriccio from the second Partita may face criticism from traditionalists, they consistently find success due to the exhilaration they bring. Moreover, our culture tends to favor a faster pace, evident in the evolution of movie frame lengths over the past 50 years. While one can choose a slower, more deliberate lifestyle, the reality is that we live in a fast-paced world. Additionally, it's worth noting that Bach himself possessed an energetic temperament and favored fast tempos when playing and improvising. Having said all that, I agree that this piece unveils a different facet of potential in a slower tempo. However, in my personal opinion, this quality is better showcased on the instruments you mentioned, rather than on a modern piano.

@Bova13 6 ай бұрын

@@DenZhdanovPianist I'm not quite sure about this: "... and favored [Bach] fast tempos when playing and improvising." but I agree on everything else, specially on the "because I can" hehehe. Thanx for taking the time to answer. Happy new year!

@DenZhdanovPianist 6 ай бұрын

@@Bova13 that’s something I have come across a few times in his biographies. But actually yeah, nowadays it’s difficult to be sure about credibility of any stories and myths in the older books on Bach, people were not quite familiar with modern research standards😆

@uigliam 10 ай бұрын

In reality, Bach could indicate a time in three eighth notes and therefore construct the piece with thirty-second quatrains... but he didn't do it. When he wants a virtuosic ternary piece he chooses clearly fast tempos and figures (see Duet BWV7 802). This piece of music is meditative in nature, not brilliant. Furthermore, the eighth notes in the left hand, in the third beat of each bar, should not be played detached, like sixteenth notes: the drama is lost./ This is my opinion. Of course you play well.

@DenZhdanovPianist 10 ай бұрын

Yes! You are absolutely correct! It is also absolutely correct, that Bach was famous for his love to playing in extreme tempi!😉

@blueshark3098 7 ай бұрын

"This piece of music is meditative in nature, not brilliant. Furthermore, the eighth notes in the left hand, in the third beat of each bar, should not be played detached, like sixteenth notes: the drama is lost." Yours is the best explanation I have ever heard about why this piece should not be treated as a virtuosic speed-fest, also the opinion about the third beat of each left hand bar also addresses the unfortunate tendency of Gould and others to play everything staccato. Thanks so much.

@uigliam 7 ай бұрын

@@blueshark3098 👍😉