Interpreting Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier

by Kirkpatrick, Ralph

• ISBN13: 9780300038934
• ISBN10: 0300038933
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1987-02-01
• Publisher: Yale Univ Pr

Summary

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

Table of Contents

List of Musical Examples	xi
Preface	xv
Introduction	1	(4)
The Historical Approach and Its Limitations	5	(27)
Origins of The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I	5	(3)
Meaning of the Term Clavier	8	(4)
Origins of Book II	12	(3)
Editions	15	(2)
Bach's Text	17	(1)
Early and Later Fashions in Playing Bach	17	(4)
A New Search for Bach	21	(9)
Literature about The Well-Tempered Clavier	30	(2)
The Esthetic Approach	32	(16)
The Pieces of The Well-Tempered Clavier	32	(2)
Organization of the WTC	34	(4)
The WTC and Instrumental Sound	38	(8)
Relative Validity of Varying Opinions on the WTC	46	(2)
The Melodic Approach	48	(17)
Prelude: Eulogy of the Human Voice	48	(1)
A Note on Melodic Form	49	(1)
Intervals and the Voice	50	(2)
Musical Intervals within the Context of a Melody	52	(3)
Complex Organization of Intervals	55	(1)
Essential Melody and Various Levels of Elaboration	56	(1)
Influence of Vocal Feeling on Melodic Articulation	57	(1)
Associative Aspects of Melody	58	(2)
Melody at the Keyboard	60	(1)
The Concepts of Articulation, Phrasing, and Inflection	61	(1)
Existing and Suggested Ways of Indicating Articulation and Phrasing	62	(1)
The Melodic Approach to a New Piece	63	(1)
Ultimate Inseparability of Melody from Other Musical Elements	64	(1)
The Rhythmic Approach	65	(24)
Our Physical Relationship to Rhythm	65	(1)
Some Characteristics of Meter	65	(4)
The Problem of a Distinction between Meter and Rhythm	69	(1)
Some Elements of Rhythm	70	(6)
The Formation of Rhythmic Groupings, or Rhythmic Syllables	76	(7)
Rhythmic Polyphony	83	(3)
Rhythm and Imaginary Movement	86	(2)
Summary of Essential Rhythmic Relationships and Means of Expression	88	(1)
The Harmonic Approach	89	(19)
Bach's Harmonic Style	89	(1)
Characteristics of Vertical Combinations of Sound	90	(2)
The Chords of Thoroughbass---Their Classification and Hierarchy	92	(2)
Chords and Their Components in the Context of Tonality	94	(2)
Harmonic Intensity (or Activity)---Its Degrees and Distribution	96	(2)
Diagonal Harmonic Relationships	98	(2)
Essential Harmonic and Tonal Progressions and the Varying Degrees of Their Elaboration	100	(2)
Tonal Structure---The Orientation of a Piece as a Whole	102	(2)
The Vocal Sense of Harmony	104	(1)
The Inner Harmonic Ear---Disciplines in Sharpening Its Perceptions	104	(1)
The Expression on Keyboard Instruments of Harmony and Harmonic Intensities	105	(3)
The Interpretive Approach	108	(23)
A Backward Glance	108	(1)
The Approach through the Inner Ear	109	(2)
The Technical Approach	111	(6)
The Formation of an Interpretation	117	(7)
The Later Life of an Interpretation, or Inspiration and Its Vicissitudes	124	(1)
Ideals of Interpretation	125	(6)
Index	131