Interpreting Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier: A Performer`s Discourse of Method [Paperback]

Ralph Kirkpatrick (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0300038933 | ISBN-13: 978-0300038934 | Publication Date: September 10, 1987

This book sets forth the provocative theories of a musician who has been called the outstanding harpsichordist of this century. The late Ralph Kirkpatrick reveals here his approach to a deeper comprehension of music, showing how his methods are applied to the preludes and fugues of the Well-Tempered Clavier of J.S. Bach. "This book is brilliant and important."-Clavier "All keyboardists performing classical repertoire can greatly benefit from Kirkpatrick's scholarship, dry wit, and stubborn dedication."-Keyboard "That Mr. Kirkpatrick's extraordinarily perceptive mind knew the subject matter thoroughly is beyond dispute. . . Valuable insights into the analysis, teaching and performance of all Western music, especially Bach's monumental Well-Tempered Clavier."-Arthur Lawrence, The American Organist "We are fortunate to have this book by Ralph Kirkpatrick. . . From it we gain insight into the musical mind of one of the outstanding performers of our century."-The Music Review "The real matter of the book is good old-fashioned musicianship."-Denis Arnold, London Review of Books

Product Details

• Paperback: 124 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (September 10, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300038933
• ISBN-13: 978-0300038934
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,200,721 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, March 23, 2010

By 

John Hartford "jsb1441" (Sherman, CT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Interpreting Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier: A Performer`s Discourse of Method (Paperback)

I had to write to counter the poor review below. This is Kirkpatrick at his best. You can find plenty of books that will explain the mechanics of fugue writing. Here is "A Performer's Discourse on Method." Kirkpatrick knows what he's talking about. Highly recommended.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kirkpatrick's WTC is Excellent, March 10, 2008

By 

Dhamaryder (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Interpreting Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier: A Performer`s Discourse of Method (Paperback)

After reading the review below i wondered if maybe this book IS what I was looking for. So I found it and took it out of the library. I couldn't put it down. I devowered the first 40 pages very quickly(and I'm a slow reader) and realized I had to own this book. It's extremely insightful. It's true, it's not one of those goes through documenting every entrance of the subject, countersubject, and episodes. i mean really, who needs that? Most of that jumps right out from the music anyway. And he does talk about the difference between analyses that close your ears to the music and analyses that open your ears. this is definitely in the latter category. Although I have to say, you'd never guess that by looking at the cover.

4 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars disappointing, January 25, 2007

By 

Robertson Thomas (Hapcheon, Gyeongnam, South Korea) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Interpreting Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier: A Performer`s Discourse of Method (Paperback)

If you are looking for an analysis of the expositions and episodes of the fugues in the Well-Tempered Clavier, this book is not for you.
If you are looking for an analysis of the harmonic progression in the preludes, this book is not for you.
If you are looking for debate on which tempi to choose, this book is not for you.
In fact, it is hard to say who this book IS for!

The book consists mostly of philosophical discourse on melody, rhythm, and harmony. The author uses only a few examples from the WTC. I would summarize that philosophical discourse for you, but it was lost on me.

Ralph Kirkpatrick was a well-known harpsichordist, and was especially renowned for his catalogue of the works of Domenico Scarlatti. This book was published at the end of his life. He had apparently lost most of his mental faculties by that time, and the book was probably accepted for publication only because of his name. It is unfortunate that Kirkpatrick did not write such a book in his younger years.