Bach, Johann Sebastian : Capriccio 'In honorem Johann Christoph Bachii' E-Dur BWV 993
Work Overview
First Publisher:Peters
Instrumentation:Piano Solo
Genre:caprice
Total Playing Time:6 min 20 sec
Copyright:Public Domain
Commentary (2)
Author : PTNA Piano Encyclopedia Editorial Department
Last Updated: January 1, 2010
[Open]
Author : PTNA Piano Encyclopedia Editorial Department
As the subtitle ‘In Praise of Johann Christoph Bach of Ohrdruf’ indicates, this piece was written to be dedicated to his elder brother Johann Christoph, who educated him in place of their deceased father. It can be seen as a lengthy fugue, but new counter-subjects and episodes constantly appear within it, and during this time, it modulates rapidly through various keys, resulting in highly varied content. It is a fine work that expresses joy towards his brother in a bright and lighthearted manner.
Author : Ooi, Kazurou
Last Updated: October 29, 2023
[Open]
Author : Ooi, Kazurou
This is a long fugue that takes over six minutes to play, even at a moderate tempo. There are hardly any places where the sound ceases or rests occur, making the piece continuous. It is filled with sound without any gaps until the final cadenza.
The danger with this type of piece is that the listener may become bored, which can easily happen if a monotonous performance continues indefinitely.
Tips for performing this piece:
- Above all, it is crucial to add contrast to each section.
- Vary the tone quality.
- Vary the volume.
- Vary the mood to create change.
As you will notice when you look at the end of the piece, the latter part features weighty chords, is written to be quite high in tension, and requires an increase in volume. While this presents no issue, the journey leading up to it is very long, so some form of variation is absolutely necessary.
- First, clearly articulate the theme (subject). This is essential.
- Next, avoid making sequences flat. Utilize sequences for dynamic changes.
- At times, try using sudden dynamics such as subito piano and subito forte.
- The use of the soft pedal is also permissible if necessary.
- Furthermore, roughly divide the piece into sections. For example, in sections where many double sharps appear, keep the overall dynamic within the piano range.
- In any case, avoid a flat performance by employing every possible means: vary each section, differentiate the mood of the same theme according to its key, grasp the tutti sections, and understand the solo sections.