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Bach, Johann Sebastian : 6 Partiten Nr.2 Allemande

Work Overview

Music ID : 39158
Instrumentation:Piano Solo 
Genre:allemande
Total Playing Time:3 min 20 sec
Copyright:Public Domain

Commentary (1)

Author : Ooi, Kazurou

Last Updated: April 16, 2023
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Note: This article is automatically translated from the original Japanese text. The author of the original work did not supervise this translation.

This Allemande is primarily composed of two voices. Therefore, both voices must flow smoothly horizontally. Care must be taken to avoid the music becoming vertically segmented. This requires shaping the voices in your playing. In other words, avoid playing with uniform volume, timbre, or in a marcato style. My suggestion is to consider eight notes as a single group.

At the beginning, the anacrusis starts with three notes in the right hand (A♭ G F). If you trace eight notes from this initial A♭, you will find that the eighth note is C on the downbeat of the second beat in measure 1. Consider this as one unit.

The next group of eight notes begins with F on the downbeat of the second beat in the right hand. Tracing eight notes from here, you will find it extends to A♭ on the downbeat of the fourth beat in the right hand. Repeat this grouping similarly.

Now, let's discuss how to treat these eight notes. Each group of eight notes should start p, slightly increase in volume midway, and then decrease in volume on the last note. In the case of the first eight notes, this is particularly effective as the leading tone B resolves to the tonic C.

The first note of the next group of eight, F, also starts p, undergoes the same shaping, and for the last two notes, G and A♭, play the A♭ softly.

In other words, be sure not to accent the downbeat of the second beat and the downbeat of the fourth beat in measure 1. The left hand begins two beats later, but also group these notes into eights. This way, the left-hand C on the fourth beat of measure 1 aligns perfectly with the A♭ at the end of the right-hand group, creating a point where both voices can relax.

By thinking in this manner, the voices will progress smoothly.

This grouping is not strictly limited to eight notes. For example, let's look at the right hand in measure 3. Consider the last note of C D E♭ on the first beat as the F on the downbeat of the next beat. Then, the next sequence begins with E♭ D C and extends to G on the downbeat of the fourth beat.

For the left hand, the eight-note grouping from measure 1 continues. Following the previous explanation, in this case too, the point of relaxation for both the left and right hands will align. By maintaining this order thereafter, the line will progress smoothly.

Writer: Ooi, Kazurou