Improving independent pedalling, using J.S. Bach Schübler prelude Wo soll ich fliehen hin BWV 646
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- Опубликовано: 10 фев 2025
- Improving independent pedalling, using J.S. Bach's Schübler prelude "Wo soll ich fliehen hin" BWV 646.
Performance begins 14:43.
The series is presented by Dr Tim Rishton (www.rishton.eu)
This episode was recorded in Sola Chapel (formerly Sola Church) in Norway. Details of the organ can be found on ryde-berg.no/o... .
For direct links to all the various series of organ videos, see rishton.info/.
By the way, do check out my new book on www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk/products/organist-at-your-service-1 (hardback) or www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk/products/organist-at-your-service (paperback)
A fantastic episode. Just had to drop what I was doing and listen IMMEDIATELY. So much helpful advice here and a real impetus to get cracking on this piece. Many thanks!!
Thank you for that. Yes, get cracking - it’s a great piece to learn! Tim
Thank you for this specific lecture and the many tips. Practice makes perfect as usual.
And thank you for asking for this topic - it was interesting to think about! Tim
A most interesting talk giving background as well as useful advice. One of the great delights of these preludes (and others too) is that careful thought can yield several performance possibilities. Also, returning to a piece after many years one is very likely to say, "Did I really think that was the way to play it back then? One feature that strikes me in this prelude is the frequent leaps in the intervals backwards and forwards, suggesting the indecision about knowing which way to go in life's journey. As you say, unless we study the words of the chorale that point would be lost on us.
I agree absolutely: how we play changes over the years (sometimes for the better). You make a very interesting suggestion relating the "indecisive" intervals to looking for a way to turn: I hadn't thought about that. Tim
I've watched several of your videos explaining the organ, so when I saw this video I was eager to get down and dirty.
When you played the pedal part, was it in E minor?
I only started playing the piano after 65 yoa, so my musical experience is limited. But I've always loved the organ, and when visiting churches when someone was playing was a special time for me. I was always a little amused when they would realize that I was watching, but of course it's not the most social instrument.
Merci beaucoup for these videos.
Many thanks for your comment. Yes, it was in E minor. It looks slightly confusing because the first note in the scale (the E) is played with the right foot in order to end up with the right foot on the B at the top of the scale (easier than crossing the feet high up the pedal board). I’m really glad you’re enjoying the videos and I hope they’re helpful. Good luck with the playing! Tim
Does your comment about practising being confident in order to become more confident also hold true in everyday non-musical situations? How does one determine the optimal level of confidence - both when playing an instrument but also in everyday situations? I apologise for deviating form your topic. I was intrigued by your philosophy.
What a fascinating question - thank you! When I was making the observation I was thinking specifically about practising organ pedalling and not about any wider application, but of course you’re right that the same principle holds true at least for all kinds of actions, whether it’s driving a car, playing sports or whatever. All these things require a calm and controlled deliberation and equilibrium that is linked to confidence (without over-confidence, of course).
Some years ago I talked with the Norwegian balance artist (tight-rope walker) Eskil Ronningsbakken and thought about the common ground between the disciplines (though happily it’s not as far to fall off an organ). He talked about finding equilibrium and like you he too applied that to broader life: “In the same way as I train to achieve the perfect point in my physical balance, I think we all need to train to find the point of balance for our lives”.
As a very introvert child I consciously practised the feeling of speaking and playing in public, as quite a separate thing to what I was saying or playing. So maybe yes, it does hold true for non-musical situations. The optimal level? Perhaps we can use Eskil Ronningsbakken’s words “equilibrium” and “balance”? Tim
@@timrishton5871 Organ playing and tight rope walking ... yes, that sums up how I feel whenever I am playing in public
Thank you for taking the time to give such a detailed answer. I appreciate it@@timrishton5871
Not an advert for Lufthansa LOL😂
that would be fliegen "fly" not fliehen "flee" Go back and study your Gerry vocab!
You're right, of course - the two words are interchangable in English but not idential in German (although often pronounced similarly). I shouldn't make off-the-cuff puns! Tim
Dear Tim, I was struck by the soprano sound obtained by using the pedals: the video seems to show the pedals playing the swell octave rather than the swell. I wouldn't be able to achieve this effect on the organ I play, which has swell to pedals but not swell octave to pedals, and no way of turning the swell unison off. Surely Bach wouldn't have been able to achieve it either? Yours - JOHN HARTLEY.
Lovely to hear from you, John - and an excellent observation! Yes, this organ, though mechanical action, has a swell octave to pedal coupler, which is what I used here. No German Baroque organ that I’m aware of would have had anything similar, but any instrument of a reasonable size would have had a good enough 4’ pedal stop to be capable of holding a chorale line. In addition, most organs had a coupler between just one of the manuals and the pedals, so it would have been possible even in those days to couple through to a 4-foot manual stop (and maybe 2-foot as well). That would also presumably be a possibility on your instrument too? If you're thinking Eccleshill you've got a 4' Principal and 2' Fifteenth on the Swell amd they might be useable. I only used the swell octave to pedal coupler here because I liked the sound of those particular 8-foot stops. Kindest regards, Tim
@@timrishton5871 Thanks Tim. Yes, on the Eccleshill organ I guess both the swell stops you mention would work. All the best, yours JOHN HARTLEY.
Not an advert for Lufthansa,😂 LOL
fliehen versus fliegen