Bach is one of the greatest composers of all times and peoples. Perhaps that is why it is extremely difficult to perform it: even in the smallest prelude, one musical motive flows into another, a third joins them, and all this musical lace ultimately pours out into the final chord, which puts an end to the piece.
Instructions
Step 1
It is not at all surprising that you need to be good at playing the piano in order to perform Bach. If you are not studying at a music school, but are mastering the art of playing the piano on your own, do not take on complex fugues on your own: you will not take such a fortress yet, even if you have heard such a fugue at a concert or on a musical medium, and you cannot wait to perform the masterpiece yourself … Go from simple to complex, and in no case dwell on Bach alone: even though your goal is to perform his works, do not forget to stretch your fingers with the help of etudes and "rest" from time to time from Bach's complex music on the pieces of other composers. If you study at a music school, then Bach will certainly be in your program, and all these subtleties will have to be taken into account not by you, but by your teacher.
Step 2
When you start taking notes, don't be in a hurry. In general, haste is a word that does not apply to most of Bach's works. You need to think about Bach's music. Learn to keep yourself within a certain tempo and rhythm: if you "run" forward, and, playing the last musical tune at a presto tempo, it will be a disaster. Your piano teacher will be very unhappy with you, and if you play Bach on your own, someone will someday point you out to you. The main thing is that it doesn't happen too late.
Step 3
Be very careful about trills. They should be like loops skillfully woven into lace, not torn threads sticking out in all directions. Practice them separately. Trills should not break the rhythm or "drive" you forward, forcing you to accelerate the pace. Don't trip over them like a curb at night. If a piece is too difficult for you, simplify it as you see fit or ask your teacher for help. Most likely, the listeners are not knowledgeable enough to know where which trills are. It will be much easier for you to play, and you will make much fewer mistakes.
Step 4
Work on the melody separately. Think about what motive complements what, into what motive goes. Bach's works are characterized by "polyphony" - polyphony. You will not find the leading motif in the right-hand part and chord accompaniment for the left part here. Sometimes the listener has to listen to what is happening in the bass and pay almost no attention to the tune that the right hand outputs at this time in the first octave. Before learning and performing, sketch this ornament of musical motives for yourself, best of all directly in the sheet music. This must be done immediately so as not to bring the wrong melodic pattern to automatism.
Step 5
Be especially careful when playing Bach in a duet, for example with a cello. First practice your own part as described above, and then work your way up to listening to the cello. When performing in an ensemble, you cannot stupidly "rattle" your part. Your piano and your colleague's instrument should weave a single piece, don't forget this. Taking into account the peculiarities of rhythm and tempo will now be even more difficult, but you are not one of those who give up in the face of difficulties, are you?..
