Reflections on Bach

Today, I would like to share some thoughts about being expressive in Baroque music.

The Baroque period was an extremely emotional one. If we divide music history into more “intellectual” and “emotional” eras, the Renaissance and Classical periods would be considered more intellectual, while the Baroque and Romantic periods were more emotionally driven. Mr. Cosmo often mentions that during the Baroque period composers and performers were searching for new ways to express emotion.

As Mr. Cosmo wrote in his essay on Bach’s Inventions, the harpsichord, with its limited dynamic range and crisp, articulate sound, required performers to use rubato as a means of adding expressiveness.

Since the harpsichord has two manuals, performers could also change color or create a sense of dynamic contrast by switching to the upper, softer keyboard.

Modern pianos allow us to achieve similar expressive effects through dynamics and color changes.

Phrasing is another powerful tool. Detaching eighth notes can create a resolute character, whereas slurs and a more legato approach can produce a softer, more intimate quality. In this Sinfonia, I use relatively legato phrasing in the beginning (as in the video), and then detach the eighth notes more consistently in the dramatic fugue that follows.

Bach’s music is already extraordinary on its own, but by adding subtle expressive elements—such as rubato, phrasing, and dynamic shaping—we can illuminate his ideas even more and create interpretations that are personal and unique to each of us.

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