Taught by renowned pianist
Anne-Marie McDermott
When Anne-Marie McDermott first heard Bach's A minor English Suite in a live performance given by pianist Ivo Pogorelich, it forever changed her mind about Bach. Far from didactic music intended for developing pianists, this was music filled with vitality and fit for the big stage. In this series, McDermott delves into the English Suite's pulsating Prelude, a monumental work of relentless two-voice counterpoint, before guiding you through the heart and soul of the suite in the Allemande, Courante, and Sarabande, and culminating in a look at the playfully contrasting Bourrées and serioso Gigue. A work of advanced repertoire, some movements are approachable for intermediate players, and the whole work is filled with lessons for all levels of pianists approaching the music of Bach at the keyboard.
Introduction
Join celebrated American concert pianist and recording artist Anne-Marie McDermott in an exploration of one of Bach's most thrilling keyboard works, the A minor English Suite. In this overview of the piece, McDermott introduces you to the primary tools she uses to achieve a convincing performance of the work, including pulse, shaping, voicing, and intentionality.
I. Prelude
The Prelude to Bach's A minor English Suites is one of his most energetic and dynamic works, a molto perpetuo from start to finish. In this lesson, Anne-Marie McDermott focuses on the main pianistic and interpretive principles for executing the piece with style and confidence. In addressing the technical challenges, McDermott offers practice strategies for building muscle memory and avoiding tension. Pulse is vital to the music, as is breath, and McDermott shows how to reconcile the two. She goes on to explore matters of articulation and shaping, advocating for a kind of demonstrative playing that communicates directly to the listener. With an ear to the larger form, McDermott reveals the key moments that contribute to the dramatic journey and joyous culmination of the work.
II. Allemande, III. Courante, IV. Sarabande
The heart of Bach's A minor English Suite is found in the core dances: Allemande, Courante, and Sarabande. Anne-Marie McDermott shows how Bach transports us into another dimension, with the long lines and magic moments of the Allemande, before it gives way to an action-packed Courante. The suite finds its most serene moments in the peaceful Sarabande, where McDermott shows how to capture its sacred character through visualization and touch.
V. Bourrée I, VI. Bourrée II, VII. Gigue
In Bourrée I of the A minor English Suite, Bach returns to the pulsating drama of the Prelude with a rollicking dance in 2. To really capture the vitality inherent in the dance, Anne-Marie McDermott insists on a strong dose of intentionality: articulating and shaping contrapuntal lines very deliberately, and with purpose. Then, in Bourrée II, you should change your tune – and your technique. McDermott shows how to approach this A Major oasis with a more sustained tone and a lower wrist. The final Gigue should be played with an emphasis on the 6, to communicate the weightiness of the dance. McDermott demonstrates how to control overlapping lines and use dynamics to generate a sense of forward motion and structural coherence. Finally, stamina is an issue in the whole work, and McDermott shows how subtle technical adjustments can keep your arms from feeling strained in performance.
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Unlock Course →Pianist Anne-Marie McDermott is a consummate artist who balances a versatile career as a soloist and collaborator. Performing over 100 concerts a year, her repertoire choices span from Bach and Haydn to Prokofiev and Scriabin to Kernis, Hartke, Tower and Wuorinen.
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