
Bach on the Wrong Instrument
Nobody ever told me I was playing Bach on the wrong instrument
“After years of playing Bach on the piano and marimba, my whole idea of this music was forever changed by performing on historically appropriate period instruments. I want to share my discoveries and passion with anyone who plays or loves the music of Bach as I do.”
Not your average early music lecture recital
How can we play Bach’s music on the wrong instrument while respecting the underlying language, dance, and articulations found in early instruments? By performing on both the marimba and harpsichord with an accompanying lecture, Sean makes a case for both period instruments and modern instruments being appropriate for Bach’s music. Sean addresses what can be learned from the past and the ways we can treat old music as an historical artifact, learning the context and language behind the notes.

Topics of discussion include:
Baroque Dance
Articulation
Baroque violins and bowing
Historical tuning systems - temperament
Marimba interpretations of the Bach Violin Sonatas and Partitas
Marimba interpretations of the Bach Cello Suites
The inner workings of the harpsichord
Similarities and differences of modern vs. historical instruments
Key color and emotional affect
The role of analysis in Bach
Common modern interpretation and conventions
Voicing and dynamics
Continuo
Improvisation and ornamentation
Bach’s inspirations