WEEK 1: Discovering J.S.Bach! 
Welcome to the Main Thread for the first week of the J.S.Bach Challenge! This is the place to post submissions of the first week!
- Make sure you've read the guidelines before replying (<- click)
- Watch the kickoff livestream for help with the first section!
If you want to describe your process (optional), feel free to use the following template.
- Things you found easy:
- Things you found difficult:
- (Optional): a video of you performing it!
- (Optional:) questions
↓ Reply below with your submissions and questions! ↓
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Air on the G String (Suite No 3, BWV 1068)
This month's Challenge is "Discovering J.S.Bach!", but I discovered my incapability of playing Bach music.
I almost gave up, but I decided to at least practice one little piece. It's still a work in progress, but I would like to share the result with you all. - Things I found easy: It looked easy, that's why I chose this piece.
- Things I found difficult: The flow! This piece is silky smooth if you listen to the strings version. However, we all know that guitar can't sustain notes very well, so keeping the flow of the whole piece was extremely difficult! I have to keep at least one finger pressing down either on the bass or on the melody every beat, in order to keep the illusion of continuity. I didn't repeat the 2nd half because it was already too long, I was exhausted.
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Jack Stewart Thank you, Jack!
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Wai this was absolutely beautiful! Nice work.
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Steve Pederson Thank you, Steve.
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Wai Bravo, Wai! We always have a challenge when play very known pieces, and this Aria are sounding really good, the lines are clear, you have all you need, with a bit more time will be perfect!
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Moyses Lopes Thank you, Moyses. Yes, Recording well-known pieces are very stressful.
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Wai great Wai, I think you finally discovered you can play Bach
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Blaise Laflamme Thanks, Blaise. Well, I discovered I can play J. "Simplified" Bach.
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Wai well... we can say the same for any simplified transcriptions of Bach keyboard works for guitar, but it's still Bach
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I'm looking forward to this challenge! Eric Phillips Jack Stewart Luciano Salvatore and Wai you all are playing strong right out of the gate!
At the Sanel Redžić interactive masterclass on Saturday, I asked a question about how to approach performance practice for an entire Bach Suite (thank you Martin for sharing it with him). He gave a wonderful answer about devising a weekly plan that included isolation practice, left hand only practice, and 20 minute repetition on each movement. For about a year, I have been working on the first cello suite, BWV1007. So my goal might be to submit a couple of movements each week so that be the end of March, I can achieve a realistic performance practice plan going forward.
Here's an unedited performance of the Sarabande that I recorded last October - such an emotional piece!
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Rick Lord Wow, this was deep, almost meditative, and the guitar sound was so beautiful. I had goosebumps after just hearing the first few notes.
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Rick Lord Rick, this is wonderful. Your phrasing and tone are beautiful. I can't wait to hear you play the entire suite. Great performance!
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Rick Lord So, so beautiful. Rick! More often than not, the Sarabande is my favorite movement from any of Bach's suites. If this is unedited, I would suggest that you never edit anything, as this sounds absolutely wonderful.
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Rick Lord Wow, that's gorgeous!! The phrasing is very natural and beautifully executed! I am looking forward to how you are going to embed this gem into the whole suite
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Wai Thanks - it is a very moving Sarabande to play.
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Jack Stewart Thanks Jack - it has been a challenging project so far, but loving it.
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Eric Phillips Thanks Eric, this one is a keeper!
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Martin The Sarabande just leads you - so wonderful. Looking forward to this month.
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Rick Lord I am SO MUCH looking forward to your submissions!
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Wai Rick Lord Ok, you got me, just asked for the score. I practice this on Cello and I always thought, that there is no point in playing that on guitar because I played it on flute and thought, oh no no no, I totally miss the depht. But you convinced me!!! I will look after the score and maybe try some day;-)
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Rick Lord Wow Rick! This performance is a master class! So sweet - and incredible tone! I notice you're playing in a room with hardwood floors. That makes a huge difference. My place is carpeted, but I was playing at my in-laws house this past weekend, and they have hardwood floors. It sounded amazing.
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Rick Lord As said Steve, this video is a master class. Thank you so much for sharing!
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Rick Lord thank you for sharing this beautiful musical moment with such sensitivity
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Rick Lord wow - wonderful !
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Rick Lord really beautiful...
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Whaaat??? The kickoff hasn't even started and ya'll are off to the races! Great work by everyone!
I have only learned a few of Bach's pieces: Jesu Joy (Per-Olov's Version), Prelude in D minor BWV 999, Bouree and Allemande from the first Lute Suite. The only one I still currently play is the Bouree. I'm trying to decide if I should use this challenge to relearn the others, maybe try to add another from the first lute suite or something else entirely. I've always wanted to learn the 1st Cello Suite. It's such a classic and everyone loves to hear it. So that's an option. Looking forward to whatever happens!
One unfortunate thing is that I've had a nail disaster (pima) - don't ask
- so my playing may be terrible. Thank god it's temporary and they grow back!
End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
