Martin's Practice Diary: "Jesus remains my Joy" BWV 147 by Bach
Hello everybody, I decided to give one of the most beautiful chorale preludes by Bach another shot, the famous "Jesus bleibet meine Freude"! Will I have it ready for Christmas? I doubt it, but we will see! 
I always wanted to learn this piece since I've first heard David's Transcription of it, not knowing how damn difficult it is for the left hand because David makes it look so simple!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCtT9WIBySU
Here's a wonderful version of the whole Cantata by Nikolaus Harnoncourt, whom I've had the honor to met and talk a bit in class he gave in Cologne, must have been 2012 or so!
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What a lovely piece!!! I don't think I have ever heard in on the guitar. Thank you for sharing, it will be beautiful!!! that gives me an idea, maybe I should prepare a Christmas piece!
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Emma Thank you so much! I'm thinking of doing a Christmas Challenge, where everybody shares their favourite classical guitar Christmas pieces (La Nit de Nadal by Llobet or Villancico de Navidad by Barrios) or simple Christmas Arrangements from their country, haha!
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Martin then we will have to hurry haha... these challenges are killiing me!
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Emma Hahaha, one day tonebase gets us all!
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Martin beautiful music yes Martin! thanks for sharing! I love the idea of a Christmas Challenge with Christmas songs of all of us! I don't play anything adequate for Navidad, but I will look for something today!!! it will be great something of our "Misa criolla" of Ariel Ramirez! it needs to be something easy....I could learn it in Argentina! (I am flying next week there!). Let´s do it !, if the community agrees also!
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Nora Torres-Nagel From la Misa Criolla there is nothing for solo guitarra, I will learn the Villancico of Barrios!!!!! even for me! thanks for the motivation Martin and Emma!!!!
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Emma do it Emma! and we play with candles together for Christmas!
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Nora Torres-Nagel ya no sé si me va a dar tiempo! sois unos máquinas todos... pero sí, hay que preparar al menos un villancico. El de Barrios es precioso, esperando oirtelo tocar con ilusión, buen viaje!
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Emma gracias! sos española?
. A mi tampoco me va a dar el tiempo seguramente.....y estando de visita en Buenos Aires...
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Martin Nice idea, Martin, since there are quite a few "aguinaldos" arranged by Alirio Diaz for the classical guitar
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That is a beautiful piece. I have a transcription of it by Christopher Parkening (Christopher Parkening Plays Bach). I had bumbled thru it many years ago but haven't tried in a long time. You refer to David's transcription, is that David Russel? Looking forwards to hearing your progress. Thanks for sharing.
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Jack Stewart Thank you so much! Yes, the transcription is by David Russel, and looking at the fingering one can really feel how flexibel his left hand must be! It's ingenious how the character shines through a fingering!
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Martin This is the transcription from Parkening Plays Bach. It is actually transcribed by RickFoster. I purchased this collection probably in the 70's. I don't have any idea how the transcription is. I would be interested in how you compare this with the Russel transcription.
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Jack Stewart Hey Jack, this is the wrong attachment. I believe Rick Foster was a student of Parkening, and Chris likee this version as it preserves all the bass lines, which also makes it very difficult. If you have it to attach that would be great. Parkening plays these Bach pieces so beautifully! thanks!
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Barney Opps. You're right, well, half right. 1 page was the WTC prelude 1 and 1 page was from the JJMD. Here is the correct score.
Thanks for pointing that out Barney.
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Jack Stewart Thanks Jack! I never played this piece, but always wanted to...
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Jack Stewart thank you so much for sharing, Jack! This piece is one of my favorite, also.
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It's a great piece Martin and I'm sure you will manage it. I think I will give the solo version a miss but I think I have a version somewhere for guitar ensemble. Every Christmas I dig out the famous gavottes (cello suite 6?) as I was taught them years ago at Christmastime but I never leave enough time to do them! The Christmas challenge is a great idea. I must start thinking about it now!
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This piece (The Rick Foster version) is quite challenging for the left hand and to play legato with beautiful tone, so it would be a great choice for a detailed Tonebase tutorial. What do you think?
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Barney but it's sooooo hard! I definitely would like to do it, but I still need more time for that one!
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I don't have David Russell"s version, so not sure if Rick Foster's is easier than his. Christopher Parkening like the Foster one, but admitted it also wasn't easy. But the voicing in these versions are so beautiful. You're the best, but if one of your colleagues is already up on these advanced version, that may also be a possibility to consider. No pressure!!, ha ha.
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Barney Well, looks like it will take me another year to have this one concert and livestream ready!
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Martin Yeah, some of these pieces are so hard and definitely need time and patience to master. Just look at it as one of your long-term projects. I think it will be worth it. Enjoy the journey!
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Martin Nice job so far! It looks really difficult and it's really sweet so worth the effort. Good luck we have 3 days left, can't wait to hear the completed work. Thanks for sharing.
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Kevin Mudd looks like I will need another year to perform that piece, haha! I'll definitely keep on working on that this time!
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
