Revisiting this famous piece, let me review different ways to play two-hand
upward arpeggios in Baroque music.
(1) Romantic tradition: arpeggio in both hands, starting with the l.h.
before the beat, so that the top r.h. note falls on the beat.
(2) Same but only l.h. arpeggio: start as above with the l.h. before the
beat, and end with the r.h. chord (this one with no arpeggio)
(3) Usual Baroque custom: the lowest l.h. note starts on the beat, and we
proceed with the remaining notes. The last r.h. note strikes significantly
after the beat.
Problem is, this sounds fine in most situations, but not quite natural when
this last note is an important beat note. Probably the solution depends on
every single example.
One I find difficult is F. Couperin's Passacaille from the 8e Ordre. In the
7e. Couplet (yes, the one with the famous "x"!), perhaps significantly, all
the arpeggios are notated for the left hand only, and the semiquaver seems
to rule-out any before-the-beat thing. I have been playing both (1) and (3)
above, but now believe I have been wrong, as a further possibility is as
follows:
(4) The l.h. plays an on-the-beat arpeggio: the r.h. chord is played with no
arpeggio on the beat: clearly, the first-and-lowest l.h. note strikes
together with the r.h. chord.
Strictly speaking, this is what the composer wrote in this score.
I find that both (3) and (4) sound equally "natural", so I went and checked
five recordings, expecting some to follow one, others the other, but to my
surprise things were different!:
Wanda Landowska - some arpeggios (1) others (4)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVwLC3DNkHY
Anton Heiller - all (1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QP0d6Ue_bs
Kenneth Gilbert - mostly (1) and a few (4)
(from my own CD)
Michael Borgstede - all (1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWs4KSQr4Vw
Christophe Rousset - most (1), some (2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqa0MXZP_wg
Olivier Baumont - some (1), most (2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l67BO5nscWM
Perhaps some distinguished members "hear" otherwise ... ?
Suggestions?
Best
CDV
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