【專輯介紹】: br />
The Different Approaches of the Performance between Glenn Gould and Angela Hewitt
Appearing commonly in baroque period, the early keyboard instruments such as harpsichord, clavichord and virginal were widely used for many music compositions. Nonetheless, after classical period, piano has become more important because it can make the sound louder or softer and more vibrate. Moreover, the mechanisms between piano and Baroque keyboards are not similar, so the technique of playing is also different.
The question is how can we express and articulate the music in Baroque as the composers definitely did not write any dynamics or articulations? Although there are many ways to create the sound, musicians need to analyse and express by their own imagination and experience base on that period style. For example, the prelude and fugue No. 1 in C Major BWV 870, even Glen Gould and Angela Hewitt, both of them performed differently.
Glenn Gould was a Canadian pianist (25 September 1932?– 4 October 1982), he powerfully created the Baroque music style with very clear articulation. Even though he did not do noticeable dynamics, the sound in each voice came out completely distinct with polyphonic texture. In this fugue, he projected semi quavers throughout which leads the music to the true feeling of harpsichord sound. Furthermore, the tempo quite stayed the same except at the end. It would be reasonable to conclude that Baroque music can be truly perceived by the performance of Glenn Gould.
Nevertheless, music is not being strict and it can be more freedom. Angela Hewitt is a Canadian pianist, born on July 26, 1958; she also works on many Bach’s music. She shows a new style of playing Bach’s music in this century by playing expressively. In addition, making this prelude and fugue more interesting, Angela does a lot of dynamic directions and phrases every sentence emotionally. Her articulation is smoother than Gould but it is full of liveliness. Attractively, she takes time in each section of this fugue, so the structure is clearly divided.
It appears that there is no rule for playing music, seeing that the new generation of musicians creates baroque music as romantic style. However, it is necessary to explicitly understand the period and history because every single piece has their own origins. If musicians have enough experiences and reasons, there is no right or wrong of playing.