Baroque pieces

[rhapsody_]

I am playing a piano Bach prelude and fugue, and I would like some advice on playing them in terms of dynamics?

My music teacher at school insists I strictly play forte and piano only, nothing in between and no crescendos/dimuendos since Bach's keyboard works were intended for harpsichord. However my piano teacher says that as a pianist I should input some crescendos and dimuendos for better musicality.

I'm more or less torn between these two teachers if not confused  Thoughts and advice? What is the expected standard for baroque pieces?

[ninwa]

I am playing a piano Bach prelude and fugue, and I would like some advice on playing them in terms of dynamics?

My music teacher at school insists I strictly play forte and piano only, nothing in between and no crescendos/dimuendos since Bach's keyboard works were intended for harpsichord. However my piano teacher says that as a pianist I should input some crescendos and dimuendos for better musicality.

I'm more or less torn between these two teachers if not confused  Thoughts and advice? What is the expected standard for baroque pieces?

Dynamics are generally accepted for Baroque pieces, listen to your piano teacher

[rhapsody_]

Hmm is that so? My classmate's in a similar position to me and asked our teacher about it, he told us that it's not that dynamics are wrong they're just not "stylistically correct"for Baroque pieces which I believe is part of the criteria  I'm more inclined to listen to my piano teacher but still need to think about it.

It sucks because my Fugue sounds really good with dynamics!

Thank you for the reply

[ninwa]

They are most definitely accepted. If you look up well-known pianists (Rosalyn Tureck in particular) on Youtube, all of them use dynamics to great effect. I've done a lot of competitions and have never heard anyone play baroque with one dynamic - it would be incredibly boring! Just don't go over the top - avoid your romantic-era ffs and ppps, and remember that every voice, not just the top, is important.

The only recordings of baroque pieces I've heard without a variety of dynamics are those done on harpsichord and even then they still have loud and soft. Listen to your piano teacher - a lot of school music teachers don't have the high level formal training that specialist teachers do.