Bach on the Piano
SIR,—With regard to this question of the interpretation of Bach on the piano—no matter how many people may claim to like " Bach " played on the piano, and "prefer" it to the harpsichord, the fact remains that Bach's keyboard music cannot be played on the piano. The kind of noise which issues from a modern grand piano is not the kind of noise which Bach either did or could have composed. The piano is a romantic instrument suitable for the rendering of Liszt and Debussy, and other gentlemen of this genre; it is absolutely impossible for baroque com- posers such as Bach and his contemporaries. It is time people who pretend to understand Bach realised this; realised that Bach was a baroque composer demanding a baroque style of playing on a baroque instrument, be this organ or harpsichord.
Those of us who have appreciated this simple truth should rejoice and be proud that there is in England today a healthy rivalry between several craftsmen of great skill who are making harpsichords and clavi- chords; and let us hope that other craftsmen of equal, taste. kill and enterprise will soon, by building baroque organs, enable us to hear Bach's Organ-music.—Yours faithfully,
H. H. RICHARD.
4 Phillimore Terrace, W.8.
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