How far am I from the Bach Chaconne?

October 10, 2010 at 11:18 PM ·

I'd consider working on the Corelli and Vitali chaconnes first to get a good feel for this kind of piece. 

October 11, 2010 at 12:09 AM ·

@Lily Liu

Maybe Smiley Hsu can share some thoughts (I'm assuming that you're an amateur like some of us).

October 11, 2010 at 01:06 AM ·

Hi Lily,

The Chaconne is by far the most rewarding piece I have ever studied.  I am no where near being able to play it well, but also not as far away as I originally thought.  When I started playing it earlier this year, I did not think I was close to being ready, but then after I spent some time (quite a bit of time actually) on the first two lines, I realized that I do have the chops, but it would take time and patience.  After 7 months, spending about 30 minutes a day on it,  I am about 80% through the piece (only 2 pages left). 

The biggest difficulty with the Chaconne is the double stops, or rather triple and quadruple stops.   The toughest chords for me are those that involve fifths, but if you want to improve your double stops, this piece will do it.  I don't think there are any etudes that will improve your double stops faster than the Chaconne; at least I have not found any. 

I have been playing the Polo double stop studies in parallel with the Chaconne to build specific skills that are required in the piece.  Right now, I am working on triple stop studies in the Polo that require playing 3 strings simultaneously.  This technique requires playing over the fingerboard with a LOT of bow speed.  There are quite a few places in the Chaconne where this is required.  I have heard recordings where the artist rolls the chords, but it really sounds better if three strings are played simultaneously.

The majority of the piece can be played in 1st and 3rd position, with some 2nd position and higher positions scattered in, but it does not involve a lot of extensive shifting, or fancy bowing.  The main difficulty is the chords. 

My recommendation is to take it out and start playing around with it.  The first half page is a killer so don't be overwhelmed if you are not able to play it right away.  Like any piece, you just have to divide and conquer.  Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.  The Chaconne is an amazing piece of music -- absolute genius.

October 11, 2010 at 12:56 PM ·

Smiley's points are good. When I studied the Chaconne, it was only after having studied all the rest of the S&P movements.  For example, the fugues in the sonatas are good prep for the Chaconne's triple stops.

December 24, 2011 at 11:46 PM · Lily,

I only recently started studying the Ciaccona, and I would suggest you work your way through the rest of Kreutzer first. After Kreutzer, do a few Dont etudes, as they are good preparation for the chords in the Ciaccona. Bach is not something to be played as an etude. I would also suggest first working through a few of the other sonatas and partitas. Partita 1's Allemande is a good movement to start with.

I have found that the majority of my fellow students work on a few major concerti before starting the Ciaccona. What pieces have you recently completed?

A list of the pieces I did before the Ciaccona:

Mendelssohn

Vieuxtemps 5

Wieniawski 2

Bach Sonatas 1,2; Partitas 1,2,3 (without the Chaconne)

For me, it was also a race to get to the Chaconne as quickly as possible, but I realized (after my teacher told me to) that playing the other Sonatas and Partitas showed me how to interpret what Bach's music. You really do need a sense of what Bach wanted in order to play the Chaconne well.

Even with all the preparation I had and all the times I've listened to the Chaconne, my teacher stills has a lot to say to me at every lesson about the Chaconne. Bach's 3rd Partita is the easiest (technically) out of all of the pieces, so definitely play a few other ones before starting the Chaconne.

Finally, your teacher (probably) knows when you're ready for the Chaconne. My teacher did, because she studied (and lived) with Galamian for 7 years!

P.S. If you can get past Vieuxtemps 4 or 5 alive, then the chords in the Chaconne are a piece of cake. And yes I know that this thread is old.

December 25, 2011 at 04:30 AM · The difficulty about the Chaconne, I found, is the length. My hand is already sore at the key change. Otherwise the other fugue is just as equally difficult. The only reason why I want to learn Chaconne before other fugue is just because the rest of partitas #2 is just so easy to go through. (Sarabande is the only one needed a bit of work) But Chaconne is just like a huge wall right in front of your way. It is just too bad that I have to pick other if I want to finish one whole single sonata or partita... But I love all the Bach solo S&P. If someday my technique is there the whole S&P will be my etude! I play different phrasing everyday on the movement I'm able to play right now. If I play like a piece I think I will set myself into one direction of phrasing. But that's just me.