Baroque Pianism: Perspectives on Playing Baroque Keyboard Music on the Piano, with Emphasis on Bach’s Fugues in the Well-Tempered Clavier

Author

Chih-tung Cheng, The Graduate Center, City University of New YorkFollow

Date of Degree

9-2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

D.M.A.

Program

Music

Advisor

Janette Tilley

Advisor

William Rothstein

Committee Members

Thomas Sauer

John Musto

Subject Categories

Music Performance

Keywords

Baroque Pianism, Bach Well-Tempered Clavier, weighted-finger touch, awareness, technique, interpretation

Abstract

In a famous quote, Schumann described the fugues in Bach's Well-tempered Clavier as pianists’ “daily bread.” This dissertation explains how these fugues can be pianists’ practical daily bread by encouraging them to explore a virtuosity of subtlety. I assert that the compositional complexity in these fugues increases pianistic challenges in both interpretive and technical aspects; these challenges can lead pianists to explore a multi-faced pianistic awareness in a way that they may not encounter when performing other styles of music.

Recommended Citation

Cheng, Chih-tung, "Baroque Pianism: Perspectives on Playing Baroque Keyboard Music on the Piano, with Emphasis on Bach’s Fugues in the Well-Tempered Clavier" (2019). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/3449