Tempi for Bach preludes

[champbassist]

Are there any recommended tempi for Bach's preludes?
I felt it'd be a good idea to look up some recordings of pro Bach players like Richter play it and to play it a given prelude at that tempo.
But it makes me wonder: how were the tempi they're playing at decided upon?

[JimmyM]

play it at whatever tempo you want. i only have learned the first prelude but i discovered i was whipping it good compared to recordings i downloaded of cello players. btw, that is a good idea to download recordings...i've heard a couple and they tend to be slower than you think they'd be.

and they decided on tempi, or tempos for us regular folk, by bach suggesting the tempo with words and not numbers. which leads to the next suggestion...i hope you're not planning to use a metronome when playing it. metronomic precise timing is not what you want when playing bach solo pieces.

[champbassist]

The problem is there are no tempo markings (not even in words) in the preludes.

I'm definitely not going to use a metronome. But, obviously, I need to know that a piece is supposed to be played presto and not adagio

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by champbassist

The problem is there are no tempo markings (not even in words) in the preludes.

I'm definitely not going to use a metronome. But, obviously, I need to know that a piece is supposed to be played presto and not adagio

why? mix it up a little...have fun.

[5StringBlues]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

why? mix it up a little...have fun.

Mr. Berlin? Is that you?

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by 5StringBlues

Mr. Berlin? Is that you?

who?

[5StringBlues]

Irving.

[varunkapahi]

do you have pdf's? email them to me!

[Mark Wilson]

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

do you have pdf's? email them to me!

http://imslp.org/wiki/Main_Page

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

A copy/paste from a YouTube video page (not mine) with some interesting info on the subject:

Originally Posted by http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=376WmI74mxc&fmt=18

PLEASE READ: My Bach videos illustrate my tempo theory as much as they feature my playing and seek to demonstrate Bach's ideal tempos Kirnberger describes. Further information can be found in my historically-based material here as well as on my website, BachScholar.com.

"One must acquire a correct feeling for the natural tempo of every meter, which is called tempo giusto. This is attained by diligent study of all kinds of dance pieces. Every dance has its definite tempo.....the tempo giusto is determined by the meter and by the longer and shorter note values of a composition."
(Bach's student, J.P. Kirnberger, 1774-79)

****************************************
About the Inventions:

Bach loved symmetry and organized the 15 Inventions according to an ingenious symmetrical plan. The first and last Inventions, 1 and 15, have the same meter (4/4), number of measures (22), and tempo (84), resulting in the same duration. The next inner Inventions, 2 and 14, have the same meter (4/4), different number of measures (27 and 20), and different tempos (63 and 48), also resulting in the same duration.

In the middle lay Inventions 8 and 9, which have the same meter (3/4) and number of measures (34), yet very different tempos (108 and 54), resulting in Invention 9 lasting two times longer than Invention 8, or a 1:2 duration ratio.

To the left of the middle lay Inventions 3 and 4, which have the same meter (3/8), slightly different measures (59 and 52), and slightly different tempos (56 and 48), resulting in equal durations. The natural tempo for Invention 5 (84) results in a duration one-half longer than these, or a 2:2:3 duration ratio. The natural tempos for Inventions 6 and 7 (96 and 84) result in a 2:1 duration ratio.

To the right of the middle lay Inventions 10 and 11, whose natural tempos (96 and 84) result in equal durations. Finally, the natural tempos for Inventions 12 and 13 (56 and 96) result in a 3:2 duration ratio.

In sum, Bach always composed in pairs seeking to unify two or more Inventions with proportionally related durations. In order to understand a single Invention, one really has to understand all 15 Inventions and recognize Bach's overall, large-scale plan or "see all the trees in the forest".

[champbassist]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

A copy/paste from a YouTube video page (not mine) with some interesting info on the subject:

I've read all this guy has to say. His research seems pretty meticulous but I don't think anybody has verified his claims.