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Baroque pieces

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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:

--- Quote from: rhapsody_ on March 10, 2013, 03:14:28 pm ---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?

--- End quote ---

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.

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