Hi everyone!
3 main topics in today's Insider's Update: Youtube / Our Book / 20 hours of Podcast - Listening Guide to Beethoven's Symphonies in Whole Beat.
And more :-)
Enjoy and as always, leave your thoughts, ideas, questions, ... in the comments below!
Hartelijk,
Wim
Hi everyone!
We had a really nice time yesterday in our 2-monthly hangout - Jérémy brought variations by Beethoven, Peter had some though questions on a Beethoven sonata, Yuri found a very nice Chopin edition by Pugno and much more.
If you couldn't make it - you will have a great time watching and listening to the replay.
Have a great Sunday and... thank you for being part of this journey with me :-).
Wim
2023-10-29 08:59:04 +0000 UTC View Post
Quick reminder to our hangout, starting in one hour.
Joining is easy through this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81977316989
see you in an hour!
Veel groeten!
Wim
2023-10-28 16:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi everyone!
Let's meet on Saturday - 7 (!) PM CEST / 1 PM EST. Pay attention to the slightly different time, simply caused by the fact I do have a meeting in Leuven in the early afternoon.
As always, bring your stories, what are you working on, any questions related to the music you're playing, interpretation,...
Joining through Zoom is easy as always and is possible with this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81977316989
Hope to see many of you on Saturday!
2023-10-24 09:11:30 +0000 UTC View PostHi everyone!
Podcast ep. 7 (instead of 6 as I thought it was) - this time about a very important issue in our beloved Whole Beat Journey - yes we deliver a new vision that easily can be called a paradigm shift (I'm aware of the big claim). But there is more, this window to the WBMP actually was given in a recent publication by Marten Noorduin. How? You'll find out in this podcast.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, always very nice to get feedback from all of you.
Have a nice weekend!
Wim
2023-10-21 15:28:25 +0000 UTC View PostHi everyone!
A long video update is waiting for you here. A lot has happened in the past few months, with several important decisions now in execution. Authentic Sound is soon to become a non-profit organization (what's in a name... I'll share all the details with you). We're also preparing for the release of all Beethoven symphonies, complete with a super-bonus package. Our long-term advertising strategy for the symphonies is underway, and we've recently welcomed our first employee - a significant milestone for us. Managing all of this with our small team is challenging but incredibly exciting.
Can we improve our organization and execution? Absolutely. Are we on the path I've always wanted to be on? Yes!
I hope you enjoy listening to my ramblings for over 40 minutes (one day, these updates will take me 24 hours). Please share your thoughts with me and our community below.
Take care, Wim
2023-10-14 12:51:42 +0000 UTC View PostHello everyone!
I had the pleasure of performing a lunchtime concert in Leuven on September 14th,. This was a rather special program featuring only keyboard music, thus focusing on music without involving the pedal board (although I did incorporate it at times).
The concert included two pieces:
Organists seldom explore what is often referred to as 'keyboard' or even 'piano' music on the organ, a practice that I find unfortunate. Pieces like the WTC offer fresh perspectives on this music, making it well worth the effort to record it on the organ. The E major Prelude and Fugue, in particular, is fascinating. In the Prelude, Bach's composition almost rivals the music of his sons, exuding a light, friendly, and elegant quality. However, in the Fugue, we experience a stark contrast as we are transported back in time to the polyphonic era of the Renaissance. Of course, the organ excels in delivering those long, sustained notes, surpassing even other keyboard instruments, including the clavichord.
As for Mozart, I'm seriously considering including the recording of the 6 Munich sonatas (the earliest ones) on the organ when I record Mozart's keyboard works in a few years. I invite you to listen and share your thoughts on the matter. Playing this music on an instrument like the organ brings me immense joy, and I believe you'll feel the magic too. The impact of Mozart's music on the listener is undeniable, and you might even catch a glimpse of Anja's smile!
Please enjoy the music, and ... the Contius organ!
Warm regards, Wim
Hi everyone!
Have you ever wondered what the strongest piece of evidence is that proves the historical reality of our beloved Whole Beat? Well, that happens to be just one bar (yes, only one) in Beethoven's Sonata Opus 31 No. 3.
Why, you ask? I explain all of that in this month's podcast, which is already the sixth in the series! I hope you enjoy my voice for the next 35 minutes. Please share your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions with me!
Also, please keep me in your thoughts while listening; I'm currently working tirelessly to complete the administration work before Friday for the grant application of the Mozart's Requiem project!
Hartelijk,
Wim
2023-09-13 15:49:43 +0000 UTC View PostHi everyone,
Lot of things to share this time (again) - it feels like our project is moving very fast lately. For instance the idea of creating a new organisation around Authentic Sound. How does that sound? And there is more... Mozart's requiem... releasing ALL Beethoven symhonies instead of 'only' the 9th...?
Let me know your thoughts!
Hartelijk,
Wim
Hi everyone,
Saturday's hangout was pretty intense- we had a in-depth look at Beethoven's sonata opus 31 nr.3, a sonata Peter is working on, revealing some elements that were new also to me - as for instance the resemblance of the middle movement to Beethoven's 8th symphony's "metronome" movement.
Then Glenn brought the new edition of Beethoven's Für Elise on the table.
Enjoy!
Hartelijk,
Wim
P.S. Alberto's interview about which we speak in the hangout can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tHPeP4F2Cc
2023-08-27 10:37:30 +0000 UTC View PostHi everyone,
just a quick reminder for our hangout in exactly 1 hour. Hope to see many of you there!
Join with zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87318578684
kind regards,
Wim
2023-08-26 14:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostHi everyone!
Hope to see you all on Saturday 26 August, 5PM (CET) / 11AM (ET) for our 2-monthly hangout.
If you have a recording that you would like to share with me and the group, please copy the link in the comments below. Similar for questions - share them upfront or simply bring them to the meeting.
Also make sure to share any question or topic you'd like to bring up during the meeting or you would like us to talk about in case you cannot make it.
And... bring your stories!
Link to the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87318578684
See you all on Saturday!
Wim
2023-08-23 07:52:35 +0000 UTC View PostHi everyone,
No historical sources in this episode today. With Alberto's recent interview in mind (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tHPeP4F2Cc), the next topic came to mind: how do you actually approach a conversation (or even a discussion) about Whole Beat? The first natural reaction is to prove the existence of this metronome reading, but that is very difficult, mainly because of the fact that there is a very good chance that your conversation partner is not aware of all those sources through self-study. That immediately reduces such a conversation to a yes-no game that is of no use to anyone.
There are other ways to approach such a conversation, one of which is the reversal of the burden of proof. Something like: ok, suppose the WBMP is complete nonsense, can you show me what your solution to the problem is? And what do you think is the problem?
I go into more detail about this in the podcast. Why is that important to you? Well, for the musicians among us sometimes opportunities arise to make music with someone, a singer, violinist, ... and then you soon come to the subject of "tempo". You can avoid it or... you can try to win a musical partner for life!
Share your experience and thoughts in the comments below and as always, if you have a topic in mind, let me know!
Hartelijke groeten,
Wim
2023-08-19 09:11:02 +0000 UTC View PostYes, I know - I'm late again this month- but I have a very good reason :-). Alberto & I this week finished officially (yes) the recordings of Beethoven's 9 symphonies. It took us 3,5 years and 16 (!) full recording sessions to bring them to the level we wanted. All details in the video that goes along with this post.
Let's celebrate this moment for a bit. It is a true milestone. And if you raise a glass on this, make a selfie and share - would be cool :-).
Hartelijke groeten,
Wim
HI everyone,
I'm very excited to share this podcast with you. It's a story that I brought in the format of a lecture during the symposium as part of the Leuven Bachfestival. We zoom in on D.G.Türk, 2d generation Bach student who published in 1789 one of the most important treatises on keyboard playing written in history. He acts as a kind of "middle man" between two other really big names: J.Quantz and our beloved Mr. Maelzel. But doesn't fit in a way one would expect...
And of course, as all good stories demand: also this one gets a happy end :-).
Enjoy! (and let me know your ideas, suggestions, ... )
Hartelijk,
Wim
2023-07-28 15:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostHi everyone!
as announced in the last update, I'm happy to share with you the footage of the concert I played during the Leuven Contius-Bachfestival. I shared the concert with Hans Davidsson from Göteborg, Sweden. Hans studied (before my time) with the same teacher I had in Amsterdam, Jacques van Oortmerssen. So it was both an honor and a pleasure to play a concert together with him. You can listen to his part as well in the video I share.
The beginning of the video is blurred - I was waiting for the signal to start - start is around 2' mark.
Program:
I played:
*J.S.Bach - Prelude & Fugue in a minor, BWV 543
*J.S.Bach - Partite diverse sopra "Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig, BWV 768
Hans' program:
*Georg Böhm (1637-1707)
Praeludium C major
*Matthias Weckman (1616-1674)
· Ach wir armen Sünder
· Versus 1 Choral in tenor
· Versus 2 à Clav. è Ped:
· Versus 3 à 2 Clav.
*Georg Böhm (1667-1733)
· Vater unser im Himmelreich (Auff 2 Clavier)
*Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
· Preludium and fugue D major (BWV 532)
Enjoy!
warm regards,
Wim
2023-07-25 15:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostHi everyone!
Yes, I'm still alive :-). The Leuven Bach festival took place from July 7th till July 15th. I'm back here with an update on several subjects as always, but the most important one probably being the lessons learned after having had a lot of contacts with international musicians and students on our beloved topic!
Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions!
Warm regards,
Wim
2023-07-20 15:00:56 +0000 UTC View PostHi everyone!
Griepenkerl, you say? No worries, if you don't know who he is, you're not alone. But that's about to change rapidly during this podcast, as we delve into the ca. 1840 edition crafted by Conrad Griepenkerl (1802-1867), which features Bach's organ works. Amidst various intriguing storylines, we will focus on one particular element: Griepenkerl's tempo suggestion for Bach's Passacaglia. This description leads us to one of the most significant pillars of 19th-century tempo reconstruction, a pillar that, surprisingly, has never been mentioned in this context until now (but will be in the book!).
Enjoy!
Wim
Attachments:
1. Bach's Passacaglia (my personal score)
2. Griepenkerl's introduction to Bach's organ works (vol .1)
3. Griepenkerl's tempi for Bach's organ works
4. My 2021 version of Bach's passacaglia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzb2w1C3Cuc
2023-06-29 14:50:37 +0000 UTC View PostHi everyone,
we had a nice conversation with a small group of patreons, touching upon quite a variety of topics, from Griepenkerl's Bach editions (idea for a podcast btw) to Peter's question on Mendelssohn's Capriccio opus 14.
Enjoy the replay!
Hartelijk,
Wim
Hi everyone,
just a quick reminder for our hangout in exactly 1 hour. Hope to see many of you there!
Join with zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84838298885
kind regards,
Wim
2023-06-24 14:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi everyone!
Hope to see you all on Saturday 24 June, 5PM (CEST) / 11AM (EST) for our 2-monthly hangout.
If you have a recording of a piece you're working on and you would like to share with me and the group, please copy the link in the comments below. Similar for questions - share them upfront or simply bring them to the meeting.
And... bring your stories!
Link to the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84838298885
See you all next Saturday!
Wim
2023-06-17 09:40:23 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi everyone,
I just wanted to share a brief message to inform you that we launched a new Kickstarter campaign yesterday. It features Bach being played on the beautiful baroque organ at Leuven, performed by yours truly.
Similar to the WTC 1, for all Patreons who feel comfortable supporting this production, I will provide a digital version of the brochure we hope to produce, regardless of the tier level you choose.
As always, please don't feel obligated to back this production. Your presence here means the world to me already.
Here is the (very shareable!) link to the campaign: http://kck.st/3JdENPq
Thank you all, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Wim
Hi everyone!
With the arrival of the WTC1, the announced arrival of the Beethoven 5 (LP) tomorrow, the final prep for the launch of the Bach-Organ CD/LP kickstarter now Thursday and more... there is a lot that I need to share with you all!
Leave your thoughts below - always appreciate your feedback.
Hartelijk,
Wim
2023-06-12 12:51:11 +0000 UTC View PostHi everyone!
Something special for you - Chopin's 4th ballade, played by Alberto in a tempo given by Theodor Kullak (1818-1882). Unfortunately we do not have any tempo indication from the composer for any of his ballades. But we do have many Chopin marks given by Kullak. Kullak, forgotten today but a really important name, student of Carl Czerny. Furthermore, the metronome marks given by Kullak are in line with those we have from Chopin for other compositions. That shouldn't surprise us too much since many of the 19th c. MMs are within margins from each other. You won't find for pieces with similar notation complete different (or "personal") tempi. A Beethoven allegro is comparable to a Chopin allegro which is comparable to a Tchaikovsky allegro and so on.
You are the first to get a pre-listen to the ballades in this new fashion. Also new is the use of pedal, restricted to the indications Chopin left. Indications that, according to his pupils were very precise. Yet neglected as much today as are the original MMs... Plus you'll notice that of the modern "Chopin-Rubato" there is not much left. In that time and certainly Chopin as well, the endless shifts of tempi as much of his music is performed today, a basic tempo was supposed to strictly adhere to. Alberto might be the very first since a loooooong time doing all of that.
You'll find Kullak's score as a pdf attached to this post.
Enjoy and... let us know your initial reaction and impressions!
Hartelijk,
Wim
2023-05-31 11:50:40 +0000 UTC View PostHi everyone!
second podcast here on Patreon, this time a very broad topic: where does our beloved WBMP come from? A question many of you asked since the last episode to talk about but a question also that is asked before a lot of times. I mean: a lot lot. And yes, in all the videos published on YouTube you'll get the complete picture but I get that it is hard to connect all of those details together. Therefore these 30 minutes of me talking :-).
By the way, here is a video you should probably watch if you haven't done so before. A video on the Mersenne Paradox so to say:
Hope you enjoy this episode and... let me know your questions in regard of our tempo journey!
Hartelijk,
Wim
Hi everyone!
Update time:
all brought to you with a voice that has gone almost completely because I have a terrible cold :-). All the rest is just fine!
Hope you enjoy,
Wim
2023-05-12 13:30:46 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi everyone,
We had a very nice hangout yesterday, already a bit "new style' with a recording by Jérémy we all discussed, some questions that led to interesting conversations and so on.
Enjoy the recap!
Hartelijk,
Wim
2023-04-30 18:20:04 +0000 UTC View PostHi everyone,
just a quick reminder for our hangout in exactly 1 hour. Hope to see many of you there!
Join with zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86537819080
kind regards,
Wim
Hi everyone!
First podcast episode - a tryout for sure so feedback welcome! In these podcasts I will be talking on what you've asked me to talk about more: stories, sources, context, ... around tempo research. For a long time I planned to try a podcast format for it's different experience both as a listener and as a creator. There is more intimacy, more flexibility - also for both of us - you can listen to it more easily, even while driving, and producing a podcast is possible in more locations than when doing a video recording. So a win-win hopefully!
Enjoy!
Wim
2023-04-24 11:32:08 +0000 UTC View Post
Time for the monthly update!
Hartelijk,
Wim
2023-04-11 19:40:56 +0000 UTC View Post