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Although I frequently complain about technology along with most people I know, today is one of those days when I am truly grateful for it. I used to love playing Bach on classical guitar, but for some reason have been struggling to "get" him on piano, and it bugs me. I will say I have made some progress and now have some favorites and look forward to working on more. Then last week a video by David Fray popped up on my FB feed, I clicked on it, and poof, I now have another hero! His Bach interpretations are simply revelatory and mesmerizing to me, so fresh and full of life and emotion, not the rather dry, mathematical versions I so often hear.
And all because of YouTube and the internet in general. We can watch performance videos, tutorials, print sheet music, and exchange ideas with people all over the world, even during a cursed pandemic. We are fortunate.
I am going to attempt to attach a video of David Fray here. Many, if not most of you, may already be quite familiar with him, but I had never heard of him before last week and would be interested in your (likely more knowledgeable) opinions.
Video is not labeled correctly. Beautiful performance of a Bach-Busoni Chorale Prelude - not the Schumann concerto.
As the Youtube video explains; it's only the excerpted encore after the Schumann Concerto. Bach/Busoni: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659
Regards,
Wasn't mentioned in the video itself (as far as I could tell) - only in the comments and the "show more" drop down section. I know the piece well - love it. Great playing and beautiful piano sound.
I like Fray's ability to sustain stillness - I remember a D899/3 (whether live or CD recording, I can't remember) in which the melody was only just a murmur above the whispering accompaniment, everything sotto voce yet clearly heard......but as if from a distance.
I'd never heard a performance like it.
"I don't play accurately - anyone can play accurately - but I play with wonderful expression. As far as the piano is concerned, sentiment is my forte. I keep science for Life."
I like Fray's ability to sustain stillness - I remember a D899/3 (whether live or CD recording, I can't remember) in which the melody was only just a murmur above the whispering accompaniment, everything sotto voce yet clearly heard......but as if from a distance.
I'd never heard a performance like it.
I looked up his recording of this piece, lovely indeed. "Murmur" is an apt description.
