🇫🇷Charles Camille Saint-Saëns ： Transcriptions of J S Bach Book 2 Largo

“Largo,” Saint-Saëns’s piano transcription of a work by J. S. Bach, invites the listener to savor its unhurried, long-breathed lyricism. Within its gentle musical flow, it is important to listen closely to the expressive character of the principal melody and the movement of the supporting voices. Highlights include the long phrases through which the melody unfolds without interruption and the shading created by harmonic changes. In performance, the weight of the fingertips should be connected to the direction of the sound, sustaining each note through a deep legato while keeping the inner voices from becoming too prominent. The pedal should support the resonance without creating muddiness, and a sense of breath that preserves the flow of the beat can bring out the piece’s quiet concentration and dignity.