I’ve been watching Josh Wright’s videos on piano repertoire and technique for years, and had the privilege to hear him perform a stunning recital in the summer of 2023 (Bach-Busoni Chaconne and Ravel Gaspard were particularly memorable). So, when he reached out to ask if I’d like to record a tutorial for his ProPractice platform, it was an immediate “yes!” We decided on two movements from Bach’s 5th French Suite, the sunny Allemande and jubilant Gigue. You can watch an extended preview of my Allemande lesson on Josh Wright’s RUclips channel: ruclips.net/video/JeNu1kqxDtM/видео.html In the tutorials, I delve into core principles of playing Bach on the modern piano (as I see them), using these two movements as models for developing an understanding of the voice leading patterns underlying the music and developing a spectrum of touches and articulation as well as the finger independence necessary to illuminate Bach’s ingenious polyphony. The full tutorials on these pieces (110-minutes!) are available for purchase here: ~ Allemande: joshwrightpiano.teachable.com/p/frenchsuite-bwv816-allemande ~ Gigue: joshwrightpiano.teachable.com/p/frenchsuite-bwv816-gigue
Josh is the reason my piano technique was so good before I was able to get an in person teacher. His lessons are top tier in my opinion. My teacher even commented on it and said apart form a few things she would have never though i never went to a music school
Thank you so much Ben! Your performance of these pieces is so beautiful, along with your brilliant teaching in the tutorials. I truly appreciate you sharing your knowledge with the ProPractice community!
When an astrophysicist was once asked, "What message should we send to other possible worlds in the galaxy that would reflect the heart and soul of the human condition?" The physicist replied, without hesitation, "We should send the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach... but that, after all, would be boasting." 🎶🎹
Love the ornamentation in the repeats. It’s not my cup of tea when performers play the repeats the same way. If you’re going to play the repeats, add ornaments to them. Tastefully of course.
Very good gigue!! I’ve learned so much listening to your articulation and interpretation! I really need to implement some changes! Thanks! Great playing
Not knowinh the piece I played this video fully expecting to get bored and turn it off after a couple of minutes. But I really enjoyed the whole thing. Especially the second one. P.S. Did I hear a bit of Glen Gould piano singing at the end there?
I don’t know piano playing. But Ben, how about starting the playing from scapulars where the wings rooted? I feel the gesture sitting so straight (upright? Don’t know which word to describe)….❤and I love your playing so joyfully ~
@@TunesOfTheEarth You can here my Loure from a few years ago here: ruclips.net/video/FXnD7u4vXMU/видео.html The Bouree too. I'm doing this all out of order, clearly.
@@benlawdy Cool man. I liked the Sinfonia. Crafty and stylistic repeat riffs on the Suite dances. I tried recording this suite more than 25 years ago when I was in college on an 1890s rattletrap of a 9' Steinway at 3 am. We would break into the music building and do all kinds of crazy experiments we would probably get arrested for today! 😅 Listening back to it I think my playing was a little reckless and rambunctious! It's fun to be young though 🙃😅 ruclips.net/video/dddQ5C7f-XU/видео.html
I’ve been watching Josh Wright’s videos on piano repertoire and technique for years, and had the privilege to hear him perform a stunning recital in the summer of 2023 (Bach-Busoni Chaconne and Ravel Gaspard were particularly memorable).
So, when he reached out to ask if I’d like to record a tutorial for his ProPractice platform, it was an immediate “yes!” We decided on two movements from Bach’s 5th French Suite, the sunny Allemande and jubilant Gigue.
You can watch an extended preview of my Allemande lesson on Josh Wright’s RUclips channel: ruclips.net/video/JeNu1kqxDtM/видео.html
In the tutorials, I delve into core principles of playing Bach on the modern piano (as I see them), using these two movements as models for developing an understanding of the voice leading patterns underlying the music and developing a spectrum of touches and articulation as well as the finger independence necessary to illuminate Bach’s ingenious polyphony.
The full tutorials on these pieces (110-minutes!) are available for purchase here:
~ Allemande: joshwrightpiano.teachable.com/p/frenchsuite-bwv816-allemande
~ Gigue: joshwrightpiano.teachable.com/p/frenchsuite-bwv816-gigue
Josh is the reason my piano technique was so good before I was able to get an in person teacher. His lessons are top tier in my opinion. My teacher even commented on it and said apart form a few things she would have never though i never went to a music school
Thank you so much Ben! Your performance of these pieces is so beautiful, along with your brilliant teaching in the tutorials. I truly appreciate you sharing your knowledge with the ProPractice community!
When an astrophysicist was once asked, "What message should we send to other possible worlds in the galaxy that would reflect the heart and soul of the human condition?" The physicist replied, without hesitation, "We should send the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach... but that, after all, would be boasting." 🎶🎹
bro is glazing 💀
6:10 Ben sings. :D
I enjoyed the performance...thank you for sharing! 👏👏👏
😅
One of my favourite Bach pieces, and from now one of my favourite Bach performers 👏
I knew the Glenn Gould fanatic in you would slip out at least once or twice 😜
Wonderful performance
Nice to see that the man behind the content is talented ✨
Love the Gigue. Lively and brilliant! Makes me sing too!
I love this one, the first 'advanced' Bach piece I learned! otherwise 3 and 4 part writing were too intimidating back when I started.
No pigeons were harmed in the making of this video, lol. I very much enjoyed your performance, Ben. Your hard work really shows;)
Very gentle playing and exquisite ornamentation
A delight to listen to and watch you play! Thanks!
Love the ornamentation in the repeats. It’s not my cup of tea when performers play the repeats the same way. If you’re going to play the repeats, add ornaments to them. Tastefully of course.
Ornaments aren't the only way to be different on the repeats. Changing dynamics and articulation can be equally as effective.
Well you obviously enjoy the music of JS Bach - I like how relaxed and controlled your hands appear. Beautiful music as always from the Master.
I love it, absolutely amazing control over all the voices in the gigue! Makes me want to hear the whole suite
Wow! Great job!
Those questions, you know: to be or not to be, chicken or fish, French or English suites…
Very good gigue!! I’ve learned so much listening to your articulation and interpretation! I really need to implement some changes! Thanks! Great playing
Beautiful Bach. Thanks for the video.
That Gigue was tons of fun :D. Thanks for sharing!
Amazing! You play with such depth and just love the energy you carry all the way through
Excellent, Ben. Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful playing your performance came from your Soul and not from just the physical. BRAVO!
Thank you for the mini-concert!! 🙌😊
Beatiful performance!!!
Played so thoughtfully.
Bravo!!!!!!!!! I'm working on the French Suite No. 4 right now. I find the Allemande from No. 5 even prettier than No. 4!
It's amazing what humans can do
That was wonderful. Thank you
Heartfelt.
I knew Ben back when ❤
@@AM-dy5pr what’s up man!?
Accidentally watching this in 1.5x, still sound good.
Great stuff!
Not knowinh the piece I played this video fully expecting to get bored and turn it off after a couple of minutes. But I really enjoyed the whole thing. Especially the second one.
P.S. Did I hear a bit of Glen Gould piano singing at the end there?
Surprisingly good! 👍👍⚘️⚘️
Absolutely gorgeous, Ben!
I don’t know piano playing. But Ben, how about starting the playing from scapulars where the wings rooted? I feel the gesture sitting so straight (upright? Don’t know which word to describe)….❤and I love your playing so joyfully ~
Lovely❤
Nice trills
Ben, thank you for resisting the urge to sing along.
Softly good
Laudamus Ben!
Ben, is that Josh's piano? Very nicely shared.
Yes!
Those staccato notes at 0:42 were 🥵🥺🤤
4:11 that's interesting! 😅
Time to get a tij pinkie ring, BL. “For you.”
Oh you can actually play piano 😂
Haha just kidding! Love your interpretations as always - I listened to the Chopin C#/Db video a ton of times already!
🥰
Not enough left hand projection in the gigue. Overall, though, a fine performance.
Where's the other dances brutha? Im confused... 😅
They're in the future
@@benlawdy Standing by. The Lourree is fun.
@@TunesOfTheEarth You can here my Loure from a few years ago here: ruclips.net/video/FXnD7u4vXMU/видео.html
The Bouree too. I'm doing this all out of order, clearly.
@@benlawdy Cool man. I liked the Sinfonia. Crafty and stylistic repeat riffs on the Suite dances. I tried recording this suite more than 25 years ago when I was in college on an 1890s rattletrap of a 9' Steinway at 3 am. We would break into the music building and do all kinds of crazy experiments we would probably get arrested for today! 😅 Listening back to it I think my playing was a little reckless and rambunctious! It's fun to be young though 🙃😅 ruclips.net/video/dddQ5C7f-XU/видео.html
nice - apparently 'gigue' should be pronounced 'jig' and just means a little dance / jig...
gotta put the music stand down when you're not using it. You can hear so much more without it!!!
@@kevinhuynh8752 haha I agree - this actually came at the end of a long lesson I taught in both pieces, so I wasn’t in full performance mode
Not quite full-on Gould, but getting there :-)
I do start to sing in the Gigue, an unconscious habit I'd like to one day overcome - either by natural or artificial-intelligence means.
It's time to buy a chair!
Get a gas mask?
Oh you can actually play piano 😂
Haha just kidding! Love your interpretations as always - I listened to the Chopin C#/Db video a ton of times already!