Topic: Bach Prelude in C Erard 1922

I posted this yesterday on my HearThis channel. It's me warming up by playing Bach's much played and loved Prelude in C from Book 1 of the WTC. The piano is the 1922 Erard modified.

https://hearthis.at/robertrivard/bach-p...vard-2021/

Re: Bach Prelude in C Erard 1922

algorhythms wrote:

I posted this yesterday on my HearThis channel. It's me warming up by playing Bach's much played and loved Prelude in C from Book 1 of the WTC. The piano is the 1922 Erard modified.

https://hearthis.at/robertrivard/bach-p...vard-2021/




Hello Robert!
Nice to hear you playing Erard You know, I like it too. And I really like how you play this music, your interpretation to one of the most important works in keyboard history, Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier.
A bit slower and softer some places (1,41-1,43), some forte (2,00-2,05), diminuendo amd ritardando (2,10-2,20). My friend said once that it is easy to play, but well, easy to play badly, difficult to play well. You played very well, not too fast, I felt the flow and emotion. I was out of this world for a moment. Thank you!

My warmest wishes always,
Stig

Re: Bach Prelude in C Erard 1922

Pianoteqenthusiast wrote:
algorhythms wrote:

I posted this yesterday on my HearThis channel. It's me warming up by playing Bach's much played and loved Prelude in C from Book 1 of the WTC. The piano is the 1922 Erard modified.

https://hearthis.at/robertrivard/bach-p...vard-2021/

Hi Stig!

Thank you for such kind words. That's much appreciated. You always listen so intensely and thoughtfully. I can count on one hand the number of people who like to hear me play and you're number 1. Thank you!

I know my Bach playing style is not the usual way Bach is played today. But to me, Bach is a flesh and blood person with all the human emotions and feelings that all of us have, His son C.P.E. even wrote of flexibility in tempo to allow music to ebb and flow to enhance the expressive nature of the music.

So pleased you enjoyed this. You're kind words are the encouragement I needed to hear today.

Hope you are doing well!

My warmest wishes always,
Robert





Hello Robert!
Nice to hear you playing Erard You know, I like it too. And I really like how you play this music, your interpretation to one of the most important works in keyboard history, Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier.
A bit slower and softer some places (1,41-1,43), some forte (2,00-2,05), diminuendo amd ritardando (2,10-2,20). My friend said once that it is easy to play, but well, easy to play badly, difficult to play well. You played very well, not too fast, I felt the flow and emotion. I was out of this world for a moment. Thank you!

My warmest wishes always,
Stig

Re: Bach Prelude in C Erard 1922

Very nice, indeed.  I have always liked the Pianoteq Erard 1922

Lanny

Re: Bach Prelude in C Erard 1922

Nice warm and vintage colour ! Like your interpretation too.

Re: Bach Prelude in C Erard 1922

LTECpiano wrote:

Very nice, indeed.  I have always liked the Pianoteq Erard 1922

Lanny

Thanks, Lanny. That's much appreciated!

My best,
Robert

Re: Bach Prelude in C Erard 1922

Amaryllis wrote:

Nice warm and vintage colour ! Like your interpretation too.

So pleased to hear that, Amaryllis. Never know how the piano sounds on someone else's system. Thank you for the kind words about my playing, too. I do appreciate them.

My best,
Robert

Re: Bach Prelude in C Erard 1922

Your Erard comes across very nicely on my system. To my ears it sounds like you've opted for a slightly unequal tuning - whatever it is, I like it. I also enjoyed your 'romantic' interpretation.

Re: Bach Prelude in C Erard 1922

dazric wrote:

Your Erard comes across very nicely on my system. To my ears it sounds like you've opted for a slightly unequal tuning - whatever it is, I like it. I also enjoyed your 'romantic' interpretation.

Thank you, dazric! Yes, the tuning is Charles Moscow 1895 Equal Beating at A 432. No reason for 432 other than I like the way my ears respond to it.

Good to learn the Erard sounds fine on your system. That's reassuring.

And I'm pleased you like my "romantic" reading of it. Thank you!

My best,
Robert

Re: Bach Prelude in C Erard 1922

Was just delighting in the old pianos and saw this - it is a wonderful thing to hear Robert, thank you so much! Love it.

Agreeing with everyone, sound itself is rich and warm, realistic on my system, tuning lovely and your personal romantic interpretation feels much as I imagine Bach probably would have adored.

I feel your warmth in it and it does bring my day up to a new level of goodness in heart. Thank you Robert, you do produce such wonderful moments in time for us all with these beautiful pianos and pieces! Cheers to you.

Pianoteq Studio Bundle (Pro plus all instruments)  - Kawai MP11 digital piano - Yamaha HS8 monitors

Re: Bach Prelude in C Erard 1922

Qexl wrote:

Was just delighting in the old pianos and saw this - it is a wonderful thing to hear Robert, thank you so much! Love it.

Agreeing with everyone, sound itself is rich and warm, realistic on my system, tuning lovely and your personal romantic interpretation feels much as I imagine Bach probably would have adored.

I feel your warmth in it and it does bring my day up to a new level of goodness in heart. Thank you Robert, you do produce such wonderful moments in time for us all with these beautiful pianos and pieces! Cheers to you.

Qexl, goodness, I don't know what to say! Thank you for your generous and kind words. I almost didn't upload it because it was just me warming up. So glad I did now. I'm deeply moved by your response to my playing. As I was playing, the thought going through my mind was imagining  how Bach might have played the prelude when alone at night in the attic, away from all the children and just expressing his innermost thoughts.

Not being a recording engineer and only monitoring through headphones makes me insecure of the recorded sound. I do everything within the Pianoteq interface so your comments about the sound of my Erard are most reassuring. Today I added to that preset your Res Eq and Res Dur settings you posted some time ago and they worked a charm! Will record something this week and let you hear your handiwork.

So pleased I was able to brighten your day. You've done the same for me tenfold!

Thanks again! Cheers!
Robert

Re: Bach Prelude in C Erard 1922

Makes my day Robert - glad you know of my appreciation for what you are doing.

Yes, enjoyed the audio! The direct sound from Pianoteq is so much more usable out-of-the-box in over the years.. I feel now that I don't want to process further in the DAW a lot of times (unless there's some unique production reason for a mix). It's pretty great as it is and 'better' comes along pretty regularly!

algorhythms wrote:

how Bach might have played the prelude when alone at night in the attic, away from all the children and just expressing his innermost thoughts

This is exactly so, how I heard you playing it

Pianoteq Studio Bundle (Pro plus all instruments)  - Kawai MP11 digital piano - Yamaha HS8 monitors

Re: Bach Prelude in C Erard 1922

Qexl wrote:

Makes my day Robert - glad you know of my appreciation for what you are doing.

Yes, enjoyed the audio! The direct sound from Pianoteq is so much more usable out-of-the-box in over the years.. I feel now that I don't want to process further in the DAW a lot of times (unless there's some unique production reason for a mix). It's pretty great as it is and 'better' comes along pretty regularly!

algorhythms wrote:

how Bach might have played the prelude when alone at night in the attic, away from all the children and just expressing his innermost thoughts

This is exactly so, how I heard you playing it

Qexl, how very kind you are to say that and your appreciation means a lot!

Take care!
Robert

Re: Bach Prelude in C Erard 1922

I love the sound of your record settings. In my settings I cannot remove the rumble sound around 130Hz without destroy the basic character.
Please can you send the fxp for it or exactly describe, what you modified? I would be very grateful.

Last edited by oiseau (25-04-2021 23:46)