Topic by carmelo.paolucci

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Topic: New video Handel Prelude Suite n 1 in A Major, HWV 426

Dear Friends,

I've been thinking for a long time about adding something by other authors of Bach's time to my repertoire. And I thought of Handel, here I propose the Prelude from the first of the 8 Great Suites published on 1720.
It is not known when Handel composed his keyboard works. A number of them probably date from his youth in Germany. His teacher Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow is known to have owned a large collection of German and Italian keyboard music. And French music was well known in Germany when Handel lived there. So the very fact that Handel’s suites show a wide range of influences – German, Italian and French – doesn’t necessarily mean that they were written after his stay in Italy. At the same time it is likely that some of his keyboard works were written after his arrival in England. It is suggested that some of them were used for keyboard lessons.

In these suites Handel shows his independence towards all the styles he had got to know. Although they are called ‘suites’, not a single one of them follows the usual design of the suite.
It is especially the first movements – usually called ‘praeludium’ – which demonstrate French influence. They are strongly reminiscent of the ‘préludes non mesurés’ which are so characteristic of the music of the French ‘clavecinistes’.

Compared to the text made up of chords, I added embellishments and developed the chords to my taste. I'm not a harpsichordist but I hope you like them.
Compared to the text made up of chords, I added embellishments and developed the chords to my taste. I'm not a harpsichordist but I hope you like them.


My actual setting is:

Played on Yamaha P125 piano stage                                          Video Recording Samsung Galaxy A54.
VST: Hamburg Steinway D Pianoteq Stage 8.4.0


https://youtu.be/cscGETePPEc

Reply by DEZ

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Re: New video Handel Prelude Suite n 1 in A Major, HWV 426

Oh No !!!! Another comment by DEZ...

Your interpretation is wonderfully executed and very 'pianistic'. The arpeggios are beautifully even and the piece sits well on a modern piano.

If you tried to do the same on an actual harpsichord of the period you will find the compass is somewhat limited, the bass notes won't sustain as well underneath a busy and intricate right-hand pattern, nor will dynamics be as convincing when transcribed to note-length values (a technique used on both organs and other early instruments with little dynamic range).

A pleasant excursion into Handel for the modern age - well done !

Reply by DEZ

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Re: New video Handel Prelude Suite n 1 in A Major, HWV 426

DEZ wrote:

[...] transcribed to note-length values (a technique used on both organs and other early instruments with little dynamic range).


Here's one I prepared earlier

https://forum.modartt.com/uploads.php?f...uet_Dm.mp3

Reply by Pianoteqenthusiast

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Re: New video Handel Prelude Suite n 1 in A Major, HWV 426

carmelo.paolucci wrote:

Dear Friends,

I've been thinking for a long time about adding something by other authors of Bach's time to my repertoire. And I thought of Handel, here I propose the Prelude from the first of the 8 Great Suites published on 1720.
It is not known when Handel composed his keyboard works. A number of them probably date from his youth in Germany. His teacher Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow is known to have owned a large collection of German and Italian keyboard music. And French music was well known in Germany when Handel lived there. So the very fact that Handel’s suites show a wide range of influences – German, Italian and French – doesn’t necessarily mean that they were written after his stay in Italy. At the same time it is likely that some of his keyboard works were written after his arrival in England. It is suggested that some of them were used for keyboard lessons.

In these suites Handel shows his independence towards all the styles he had got to know. Although they are called ‘suites’, not a single one of them follows the usual design of the suite.
It is especially the first movements – usually called ‘praeludium’ – which demonstrate French influence. They are strongly reminiscent of the ‘préludes non mesurés’ which are so characteristic of the music of the French ‘clavecinistes’.

Compared to the text made up of chords, I added embellishments and developed the chords to my taste. I'm not a harpsichordist but I hope you like them.
Compared to the text made up of chords, I added embellishments and developed the chords to my taste. I'm not a harpsichordist but I hope you like them.


My actual setting is:

Played on Yamaha P125 piano stage                                          Video Recording Samsung Galaxy A54.
VST: Hamburg Steinway D Pianoteq Stage 8.4.0


https://youtu.be/cscGETePPEc



WoW! You are a great pianist!
Your arpeggios are so clean and well done. You play with so much passion. I can see and hear your strong enthusiasm to play Händel as well as Bach. Your enthusiasm fuels you to do what you love - playing Bach and Händel.

I really hope that you could do a post with Händel pieces too, after finishing this work with Bach.

Thank you very much carmelo. Always enjoying your playing.

Best wishes,

Stig

Reply by shiihs

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Re: New video Handel Prelude Suite n 1 in A Major, HWV 426

I have to agree with other commenters - very even playing, beautiful ornamentations. You did look a little tensed but kept sounding very nice (that's what recording does I guess ). I didn't know this prelude of Handel, so thank you for expanding my horizon a little

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Reply by carmelo.paolucci

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Re: New video Handel Prelude Suite n 1 in A Major, HWV 426

DEZ wrote:

Oh No !!!! Another comment by DEZ...

Your interpretation is wonderfully executed and very 'pianistic'. The arpeggios are beautifully even and the piece sits well on a modern piano.

If you tried to do the same on an actual harpsichord of the period you will find the compass is somewhat limited, the bass notes won't sustain as well underneath a busy and intricate right-hand pattern, nor will dynamics be as convincing when transcribed to note-length values (a technique used on both organs and other early instruments with little dynamic range).

A pleasant excursion into Handel for the modern age - well done !

Thank you so much for your comment DEZ!

Dear DEZ
When I read one of your comments I am absolutely happy because I know that you are extremely frank and objective and often manage to hear and highlight errors or even good aspects that not everyone is able to grasp.
I respect your opinion very much.
Thank you so and I hope to receive many more comments from you in my next videos.
Greetings from Italy
Carmelo

Reply by carmelo.paolucci

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Re: New video Handel Prelude Suite n 1 in A Major, HWV 426

Pianoteqenthusiast wrote:
carmelo.paolucci wrote:

Dear Friends,

I've been thinking for a long time about adding something by other authors of Bach's time to my repertoire. And I thought of Handel, here I propose the Prelude from the first of the 8 Great Suites published on 1720.
It is not known when Handel composed his keyboard works. A number of them probably date from his youth in Germany. His teacher Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow is known to have owned a large collection of German and Italian keyboard music. And French music was well known in Germany when Handel lived there. So the very fact that Handel’s suites show a wide range of influences – German, Italian and French – doesn’t necessarily mean that they were written after his stay in Italy. At the same time it is likely that some of his keyboard works were written after his arrival in England. It is suggested that some of them were used for keyboard lessons.

In these suites Handel shows his independence towards all the styles he had got to know. Although they are called ‘suites’, not a single one of them follows the usual design of the suite.
It is especially the first movements – usually called ‘praeludium’ – which demonstrate French influence. They are strongly reminiscent of the ‘préludes non mesurés’ which are so characteristic of the music of the French ‘clavecinistes’.

Compared to the text made up of chords, I added embellishments and developed the chords to my taste. I'm not a harpsichordist but I hope you like them.
Compared to the text made up of chords, I added embellishments and developed the chords to my taste. I'm not a harpsichordist but I hope you like them.


My actual setting is:

Played on Yamaha P125 piano stage                                          Video Recording Samsung Galaxy A54.
VST: Hamburg Steinway D Pianoteq Stage 8.4.0


https://youtu.be/cscGETePPEc



WoW! You are a great pianist!
Your arpeggios are so clean and well done. You play with so much passion. I can see and hear your strong enthusiasm to play Händel as well as Bach. Your enthusiasm fuels you to do what you love - playing Bach and Händel.

I really hope that you could do a post with Händel pieces too, after finishing this work with Bach.

Thank you very much carmelo. Always enjoying your playing.

Best wishes,

Stig

Dear Stig,

Thank you very much for your comment and for your continued support for this work I am doing on Bach and maybe also on Handel who knows.
I hope to fully deserve your compliments and I will try to improve where I can in the execution of the various pieces. I feel that this work on Bach is really making me improve in the control of the performance and in the balance of the voices although it is made on a low budget but with a lot of good will.
Thanks again for your support.
See you soon and many warm greetings from Italy

Carmelo

Reply by carmelo.paolucci

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Re: New video Handel Prelude Suite n 1 in A Major, HWV 426

shiihs wrote:

I have to agree with other commenters - very even playing, beautiful ornamentations. You did look a little tensed but kept sounding very nice (that's what recording does I guess ). I didn't know this prelude of Handel, so thank you for expanding my horizon a little

Dear Shiihs,

I'm really happy that you liked my video. Indeed this prelude by Handel was a little outside my comfort zone where everything is written and everything is clear. Improvising for a classically trained pianist is not as easy and natural as for a jazz musician.
But it was fun and Handel's music, like Bach's, is truly wonderful.
Thank you again for your comment and greetings from Italy
Carmelo