Customer Reviews

J.S. Bach's Keyboard Technique: A Historical Introduction

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A scholarly but readable work based on primary historical sources. The original German is provided, along with fine, thoughtful translations. I am not a Bach scholar, but if you are interested in finding out what can be learned about Bach's keyboard technique from the historical sources, this little book is probably indispensable.

This book is a collection of direct quotations from contemporary references (a treat to read), offered in the original german, along with translations and the authors comments and deductions. It contains a number of musical examples, demonstrating Bach's fingering principles and a chapter on Bach's footwork on the organ. A very interesting book for anyone playing Bach, or indeed any baroque music, on the harpsichord or organ. It is a short (but dense) read, only 40 pages not counting the TOC and appendices. The book itself has the size and feel of sheet music (slim keel, large pages) and fits comfortably on an instruments music stand for study.

This book uses primary sources to reconstruct how Bach sat at the keyboard and played, and it shows how much it is impossible to extrapolate backward from present-day piano technique to Bach's own harpsichord and organ playing, but gives good ideas on how to achieve some of his effects.