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tonebase Piano Course

Bach -

Little Prelude in C minor, BWV 999

Taught by renowned pianist

Magdalena Stern-Baczewska

Whereas a piece like the Minuet in G trains the hands and the mind to play varied, mostly scalar patterns in two-part counterpoint, Bach's Little Prelude in C minor trains you to think in terms of vertical harmonies, which Bach unfolds up from the bass line in the form of broken chords. In this lesson, Magdalena Stern-Baczewska reveals how Bach conceived of preludes like this one in terms of shorthand notation known as "figured bass." Understanding this compositional design will give you a strong framework for learning the notes of the work and executing it physically. Stern-Baczewska walks you through the brief, yet dramatic, prelude, giving both musical and technical insights that will help you control the arpeggiated right-hand figurations and deliver a breathtaking performance.

  • checkmark icon
    Category: 
    Repertoire
  • checkmark icon
    Difficulty: 
    All-Levels
  • checkmark icon
    Duration: 
    1
     hours
     hour

Course Syllabus

Little Prelude in C minor, BWV 999

Whereas a piece like the Minuet in G trains the hands and the mind to play varied, mostly scalar patterns in two-part counterpoint, Bach's Little Prelude in C minor trains you to think in terms of vertical harmonies, which Bach unfolds up from the bass line in the form of broken chords. In this lesson, Magdalena Stern-Baczewska reveals how Bach conceived of preludes like this one in terms of shorthand notation known as "figured bass." Understanding this compositional design will give you a strong framework for learning the notes of the work and executing it physically. Stern-Baczewska walks you through the brief, yet dramatic, prelude, giving both musical and technical insights that will help you control the arpeggiated right-hand figurations and deliver a breathtaking performance.

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Magdalena Stern-Baczewska
meet YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Magdalena Stern-Baczewska

"Columbia University professor by day, musical sorceress by night,” Magdalena Stern-Baczewska leads a career of dizzying breadth and depth: performances with the world's leading orchestras; touring with Bach's Goldberg Variations on both piano and harpsichord; daring genre crossover projects; and best-selling albums of music for sleep based on the latest research.

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Magdalena Stern-Baczewska
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