Topic: New Bach Video – Sinfonia n 14 in B Flat Major BWV 800

Dear Friends,

in this video I'll play Sinfonia No. 14 in B Flat Major BWV 800 by J.S. Bach  is a particularly dense contrapuntal piece. Two motifs of the main subject are of special importance: the descending fourth of Bƅ to F, and the emphasis on the rising third (end of (1). These motifs are repeated and constantly operative in the sinfonia. The play between them is enhanced e.g. in the lower voice of (5) and of (17-21). Here also, as in all the sinfonias, there is an episode before the third entry (lower voice, 4). The order of entries is slightly unusual: middle, upper, lower. The episode is built out of the material of the ending of the first subject (middle voice, the second half 2). At (12) there is a beginning of a dense streto, and although this is not strictly maintained in the continuation, the play of copies between the voices in (14-16) is not less impressive. At (17) something like a new dense streto begins - it is not a strict one even in the upper voices, and the lower one deviates even further and underlines the motif of the descending fourth of the second quarter in.
Enjoy your listening Bach from Italy

Carmelo
This video was recorded with these setting:
Played on Yamaha P125 piano stage, Tamara House.                                                                                                            Video Recording Samsung galaxy A54.
VST: Bösendorfer  VC 280 Pianoteq Stage 9
Editing: Wondershare Filmora
https://youtu.be/VckCyUUsbxA

Re: New Bach Video – Sinfonia n 14 in B Flat Major BWV 800

carmelo.paolucci wrote:

Dear Friends,

in this video I'll play Sinfonia No. 14 in B Flat Major BWV 800 by J.S. Bach  is a particularly dense contrapuntal piece. Two motifs of the main subject are of special importance: the descending fourth of Bƅ to F, and the emphasis on the rising third (end of (1). These motifs are repeated and constantly operative in the sinfonia. The play between them is enhanced e.g. in the lower voice of (5) and of (17-21). Here also, as in all the sinfonias, there is an episode before the third entry (lower voice, 4). The order of entries is slightly unusual: middle, upper, lower. The episode is built out of the material of the ending of the first subject (middle voice, the second half 2). At (12) there is a beginning of a dense streto, and although this is not strictly maintained in the continuation, the play of copies between the voices in (14-16) is not less impressive. At (17) something like a new dense streto begins - it is not a strict one even in the upper voices, and the lower one deviates even further and underlines the motif of the descending fourth of the second quarter in.
Enjoy your listening Bach from Italy

Carmelo
This video was recorded with these setting:
Played on Yamaha P125 piano stage, Tamara House.                                                                                                            Video Recording Samsung galaxy A54.
VST: Bösendorfer  VC 280 Pianoteq Stage 9
Editing: Wondershare Filmora
https://youtu.be/VckCyUUsbxA


Thank you carmelo. That was lovely. So beautifully played as always. You have a good resonable tempo that allows the listener to absorb the melody and mood. Many players on YT are playing so fast, fast - not enjoyable to me.

Baroque writers often said a good base speed should feel like a calm, healthy heartbeat….
Bach rarely wrote speed marks like fast or slow; instead, he expected performers to understand the speed through the structure of the notes. You understand this - in all these pieces you have a natural moderate speed (as I think Bach wanted you to have). Thank you carmelo!


And one thing, I think the volume in this recording is a little too low. Increase the recording volume a little next time. I checked with your Bach Sinfonia n 8 in F Major BWV 794 Pianoteq 9 HQ and here the volume is good.

If time, check the difference Bach Sinfonia n 8 in F Major BWV 794 Pianoteq 9 HQ  /  J.S. Bach – Sinfonia n 14 in B Flat Major BWV 800

I always enjoy your playing.

Thank you carmelo

Best wishes,

Stig

Re: New Bach Video – Sinfonia n 14 in B Flat Major BWV 800

very beautiful Carmelo.  i see what you mean about the dense structure.  but it was very easy to follow everything thanks to your expertise.

Re: New Bach Video – Sinfonia n 14 in B Flat Major BWV 800

Pianoteqenthusiast wrote:
carmelo.paolucci wrote:

Dear Friends,

in this video I'll play Sinfonia No. 14 in B Flat Major BWV 800 by J.S. Bach  is a particularly dense contrapuntal piece. Two motifs of the main subject are of special importance: the descending fourth of Bƅ to F, and the emphasis on the rising third (end of (1). These motifs are repeated and constantly operative in the sinfonia. The play between them is enhanced e.g. in the lower voice of (5) and of (17-21). Here also, as in all the sinfonias, there is an episode before the third entry (lower voice, 4). The order of entries is slightly unusual: middle, upper, lower. The episode is built out of the material of the ending of the first subject (middle voice, the second half 2). At (12) there is a beginning of a dense streto, and although this is not strictly maintained in the continuation, the play of copies between the voices in (14-16) is not less impressive. At (17) something like a new dense streto begins - it is not a strict one even in the upper voices, and the lower one deviates even further and underlines the motif of the descending fourth of the second quarter in.
Enjoy your listening Bach from Italy

Carmelo
This video was recorded with these setting:
Played on Yamaha P125 piano stage, Tamara House.                                                                                                            Video Recording Samsung galaxy A54.
VST: Bösendorfer  VC 280 Pianoteq Stage 9
Editing: Wondershare Filmora
https://youtu.be/VckCyUUsbxA


Thank you carmelo. That was lovely. So beautifully played as always. You have a good resonable tempo that allows the listener to absorb the melody and mood. Many players on YT are playing so fast, fast - not enjoyable to me.

Baroque writers often said a good base speed should feel like a calm, healthy heartbeat….
Bach rarely wrote speed marks like fast or slow; instead, he expected performers to understand the speed through the structure of the notes. You understand this - in all these pieces you have a natural moderate speed (as I think Bach wanted you to have). Thank you carmelo!


And one thing, I think the volume in this recording is a little too low. Increase the recording volume a little next time. I checked with your Bach Sinfonia n 8 in F Major BWV 794 Pianoteq 9 HQ and here the volume is good.

If time, check the difference Bach Sinfonia n 8 in F Major BWV 794 Pianoteq 9 HQ  /  J.S. Bach – Sinfonia n 14 in B Flat Major BWV 800

I always enjoy your playing.

Thank you carmelo

Best wishes,

Stig

Dear Stig,

Thank you so much for your kind words and for your thoughtful feedback! I really appreciate your insight regarding tempo in Bach's music. The idea of a base tempo feeling like a calm, healthy heartbeat is a wonderful concept, and I'm very glad to hear that my tempo allowed you to fully appreciate the melody and contrapuntal structure of the piece.

Thank you also for bringing the audio level to my attention. I compared Sinfonia No. 14 with Sinfonia No. 8 as you suggested, and you are absolutely right—the volume on this latest recording is a bit lower than it should be. I will definitely keep a closer eye on the final output gain during editing next time to ensure a consistent volume across my videos.

Thank you again for your continued support and for taking the time to share your helpful observations with me!

Best wishes,

Carmelo