Harpsichord or Piano? Development of Bach’s “Italian Concerto” BWV 971 Performance in Modern Musical Practice

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dc.coverageSTUDIA UBB MUSICA, Volume 70(LXX), No.1, June 2025, pp. 201-213en-US
dc.creatorICHIM, Diana
dc.creatorDRĂGULIN, Stela
dc.date2025-06-30
dc.date.accessioned2026-02-21T20:20:34Z
dc.descriptionThis article compares piano and harpsichord interpretations of J. S. Bach’s Italian Concerto in F Major, BWV 971. I’ve often wondered “How to play Bach’s music correctly?” This question stemmed from historical authenticity in interpretation. Authentic performances of Bach’s compositions raise a variety of problems regarding sound, technique, and style. This is due to the fact that Bach composed during a period in history when the organ, harpsichord and the clavichord were the primary keyboard instruments. It is possible to perceive and experience Bach’s music in a fundamentally different way depending on whether it is played on the piano or the harpsichord. Because dynamics cannot be altered and there is no pedal, the harpsichord demands a crisper and more distinct polyphony between voices. Articulation and ornamentation are crucial for clarity on the harpsichord, and phrases need to be formed by agogic and rhythmic shaping. When playing the piano, the performer has the ability to express themselves freely through the use of dynamics. A more expressive sound that is more closely related to vocal emotion is possible. When there is an excessive amount of pedalization or an extremely passionate attack, there is a possibility that the polyphony will become distorted.en-US
dc.formatapplication/pdf
dc.identifierhttps://studia.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/subbmusica/article/view/9351
dc.identifier10.24193/subbmusica.2025.1.12
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14637/2395
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherBabeș-Bolyai University / Cluj University Pressen-US
dc.relationhttps://studia.reviste.ubbcluj.ro/index.php/subbmusica/article/view/9351/9035
dc.rightsCopyright (c) 2025 Studia Universitatis Babeş-Bolyai Musicaen-US
dc.rightshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0en-US
dc.sourceStudia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Musica; Volume 70, No. 1, June 2025; 201-213en-US
dc.source2065-9628
dc.source1844-4369
dc.source10.24193/subbmusica.2025.1
dc.subjectharpsichorden-US
dc.subjectpianoen-US
dc.subjectItalian concertoen-US
dc.subjectauthenticityen-US
dc.subjectearly musicen-US
dc.titleHarpsichord or Piano? Development of Bach’s “Italian Concerto” BWV 971 Performance in Modern Musical Practiceen-US
dc.typeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.typeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
dc.typePeer-reviewed Articleen-US
dc.typetexten-US

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