Comments

I totally agree! Bach is some of the most physically and mentally demanding music there is . . . but it's so worth it. I'm just starting the A minor sonata and am looking forward to the journey ahead. :) Great post, I agree too! I'm currently working on the Chaconne and it is such a wonderful experience - there really is so much to discover and develop in this amazing music. I like to tell my students that no violinist likes any other violinist's interpretation of solo Bach because there are so many individual choices to be made. That said, I actually like Christian Tetzlaff's recording which was made in I believe 1993. There is a later version which I do not have. This is a historically informed performance on the modern violin. I also like Milstein on the modern violin. If you want to get a good idea about style on the modern instrument, listen to Casals playing the cello suites.

I have performed all the sonatas and partitas on 2 seperate programs on both the modern and Baroque violin. My approach is totally different when playing on the 2 different instruments.

That sounds really interesting Bruce. Can you please tell us a bit more about how your approach differs - modern/baroque? Loved what you wrote here! This sounds like great training for your mind. Your focus is impressive. I'd probably start thinking about the mochacchino already during the Preludio! Fantastic Blog!

I'm revisting the Bach concerto in A Maj. after 11 years and I'm amazed at the things that stand out to me now that I wasn't aware of before.

Good luck!

I'm also working on the A minor sonata now, the first movement. I look at the page of black ink and it just looks like a big foggy blob: where are the phrases?, what dynamics go where?, where is the music going??? It's an enigma and it's up to your to make your own solution! It's tough and endless. It really is such hard music to perform. And the tragedy of it is the audience doesn't know the difference =\. But it's beautiful that every individual has endless personal interpretations. I don't knwo what I'm talkign about I really got on a rant ahha