Playing Bach invention no. 8 and Mozart’s Rondo Alla Turca

Judge: Wendy Bachman

Review Date: 2023-04-25 21:09:51
Review Status: Judgement Received

PREP MY ART BACH and MOZART

Thank you for your two performances of these technically demanding works! I have fond memories of playing the Invention in recitals when I was younger!

Bach Invention No.8 is a great learning piece as the contrapuntal texture is so clear and easy to follow. You are using independent hands and I am hearing all the subject entrances clearly! When you prepare to start each subject entrance, as it begins after a rest, breathe the rest with your wrist as a preparation 'upstroke" and this will give your subject more buoyancy and upward lift to the top of the motive. I appreciate that you have consistent and stylistic articulation throughout because that is so important to the style. You sound very articulate and clean with your tone. Check mm. 9 where your hands were a little out of alignment. There is room for more color contrasts within the time period based on the original instrument this was performed on. At mm. 21-23 I demonstrate the terraced dynamics for the sequences that really make the notes come off the page. You can also do an "echo" at mm. 24 and 25. Because the opening sequence begins on a rest, this sets up the rhythmic structure of the rest of the piece so keep it consistent at mm. 31 by separating the first two RH notes. Your memory is secure, and this is steady in tempo. Perhaps if you have not tried to reinforce your memory through jumping ahead in practice for memory slips or knowing the cadences. This can be extremely important in this style of music.

Mozart Rondo Alla Turca K. 311 3rd Mvt; You’ve got the hands for this! Your fingers are working with facility and clarity! Tempo is steady, but practice with the metronome just for reinforcement. The Turkish influence was popular in Classical pieces, and this is one of them! I can hear the humor, lightness, and steady pulse of the military march. Your key changes are well established. Then change of mood from minor to major is wonderful! The balance of the inside voice is careful, now have a little more harmonic support from the bottom note. Think of this as three layers.
In the opening theme, keep the suspense of the eighth note rests to help the short-short-LONG structure of the phrase. This also gives it inertia which feels the propulsion of the LONG part over the bar line and to the top. This is letting nature work with you. The octaves are handled easily and give a bright ringing tone. Focus on more facility and rhythmic pulse in the RH mm. 33-39 to keep the energy moving forward. At mm. 65 at the return keep the suspense on the eighth note rests. Broken LH chords mm. 58 and alike grip more from the pinky on the bottom and the top of your RH octaves finger five for the "extremities" and this brings layers. Whenever there is a two-note slur, cherish it. It will bring a higher musical elegance to your playing. At mm. 114 keep the RH clarity and again, keep the ending tone and dynamic enthusiastic but still within the colors of this charming piece. I hope this helps and best wishes to you! This is a wonderful performance!

Judge: Sara Aylesworth

Review Date: 2023-04-25 21:09:51
Review Status: Judgement Received

Joshua,

You are an amazing musician. Keep up the good work!

Jason

Judge: Natasha Frid Finlay

Review Date: 2023-04-25 21:09:51
Review Status: Judgement Received

Thank you for sending this excellent recording, Joshua!
For memory tips:
https://youtu.be/jk0CPi37eB4
Best wishes for your audition!