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There is a reason why good teachers insist their pupils study Bach. Every note counts as with no other composer.
I've played some Bach in my time . . . but it is fair to say that he has never been front and centre in my repertoire. Until now . . .
When his 2020-2021 season was cancelled due to the pandemic, distinguished pianist Robert Silverman decided to embark on a mega-project-the entire first volume of Johann Sebastian Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier, one of the finest monuments of keyboard repertoire in the Western world.
Bach's Sonic Tapestry-The Well-Tempered Clavier of 1722 traces the author's two-year journey as he studied, learned, performed, taught, and recorded the forty-eight compositions that he came to revere.
Written in an informal yet informative manner and sprinkled with moments of lightheartedness, this reader-friendly study is comprised of three segments:
Part I - Prelude: For Bach enthusiasts or those who have tried without success to enjoy his music, this section introduces various facets of the music's background.
Part II - Interlude: The author's answers to questions posed by piano students and teachers at various recitals and workshops over the years.
Part III - Fugue: Delves deeper into the critical issues the author has learned about each piece, including essential aspects for performers to consider when studying or interpreting them.
Bach's Sonic Tapestry-The Well-Tempered Clavier of 1722 will help readers appreciate this cornerstone of classical music and guide those learning to play these astonishing twenty-four preludes and fugues.
About the author
Robert Silverman is a professional pianist, still active in his eighties, who has concertized around the world throughout most of his career.
Born in Montreal, he has lived most of his life in Vancouver. Robert studied at McGill University and the Vienna Academy of Music, and he obtained his doctoral degree and artist diploma from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester.
He is Professor and Director Emeritus of the School of Music at the University of British Columbia, where he also holds an honorary doctorate.
Mr. Silverman is a member (CM) of the Order of Canada. His discography, including the complete sonatas of Beethoven and Mozart, is one of the most extensive in Canadian pianist history. He has recorded Bach's complete The Well-Tempered Clavier on two separate occasions.
Robert has been married to his wife Ellen, also an accomplished pianist, for over fifty years.
