Bach, WTC Book 2, Prelude and Fugue No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 881 Poll

[sphinxsix]

I'm proposing some fun involving music which according to some is no fun at all.

Which of these performances would be your favorite one.?

Can a performance of a particular piece be described as objectively good (or bad).?

All commentaries are welcome! 

(the poll is incognito)

 

 

[sphinxsix]

14 hours ago, Musicophile said:

I'm just somewhat puzzled that you've exclusively selected modern piano recordings.  I still think there's a benefit to hearing this as Bach might have played it

 

These were simply top search results from youtube. Actually Gilbert's harpsichord performance was among them but I decided not to complicate things even more. I have, I think 4 harpsichord versions and probably more than a dozen of piano ones - I have a preference for the sound of piano in general. Although the first time I heard Goldbergs on harpsichord, I said 'Now I hear it was supposed to be played like that', the proportion of piano vs harpsichord versions of GVs that I have is similar..

 

10 hours ago, accwai said:

How come audio on the second one doesn't match the video fingering in many places? In fact, audio in the two above are exactly the same.

 

This was supposed to be a trap, pssss..

 

10 hours ago, accwai said:

Checked a bunch of HIP performances on hand and the durations are all over the place. Therefore tempo does varies significantly just like the piano versions. So which is the one would Bach himself have played at?

 

Do I remember correctly that tempos of many WTC preludes and fugues wasn't suggested by Bach.?

 

 

4 hours ago, Musicophile said:

Now should we care about this or just enjoy the music how we hear it is a completely different topic.

 

I think that every interpretation that is emotionally convincing and simply makes let's say artistic sense is valid. I love e.g. some Bach keyboard pieces performed by string trio or quartet..

 

4 hours ago, Musicophile said:

I'm sure Bach would have loved to play a modern grand. 

 

+1 Well said! I also somehow tend to think that he might have preferred it to historical (to us) (forte)pianos and regardless of that he still wouldn't have given up harpsichord or organ.

 

1 hour ago, WAM said:

The beautiful thing about this music, that every performance makes you discover new aspects of this music. This music never tires.

 

It's hard not to agree! I think WTC is a single most represented composition in my music library.