Bach French Suite No.5 In G Gigue, Fingering Help Options

[Scaramouche]

Has anyone played/got this piece that can help me with some fingering before my next lesson please?

I'm struggling with the right hand in bars 39 and 40 - trying to bring out the sustained top part whilst getting the semiquavers heard. What fingers do people use for the top like G-F#-G-#-G-A etc? I know some fingerings are supplied but I sort of need them all.

Then also the right hand in bar 44. I assume I play the sustained E with 5 and then 2, 321321 etc?

Thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif)

[Juan Carlos]

Has anyone played/got this piece that can help me with some fingering before my next lesson please?

I'm struggling with the right hand in bars 39 and 40 - trying to bring out the sustained top part whilst getting the semiquavers heard. What fingers do people use for the top like G-F#-G-#-G-A etc? I know some fingerings are supplied but I sort of need them all.

Then also the right hand in bar 44. I assume I play the sustained E with 5 and then 2, 321321 etc?

Thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif)

It's great to devote some time to getting one's fingering right as that may make or mar a piece.
I remember playing this piece about one year and a halg ago. In bb. 39-40, I used to play the RH top notes with 5 (G) and 4 (F#) and so on until finger 5 plays the A at the end of b. 40. It is by no means easy to bring out the top melody, I know, but I think there aren't many other choices left here. The sustained E in b 44 I used to play with finger 5 and the lower semiquavers (G E A - G E B ,,,) with 2 - 1 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 4 while 5 held the high E (I never replaced with 2). I hope I'm talking about the same bars as you mention as I haven't got the gar numbering in my Ricordi edition.
I remember finding this fingering very comfortable, though it needs to be played with a relaxed hand to make the stretctches (even if short) sound smooth.

[VH2]

I agree pretty much with Juan Carlos.

I am surprised that bars 39-40 and 44 have been picked out for special attention because:

1. There are many places in this piece where the right hand is playing two parts: one line in triplets, and another containing long notes that must be held (alternating with short ones). Sometimes the extra line is the upper part, so it is played with mostly 4 and 5, and sometimes the lower part, where it is played mostly with 1 and 2.

2. There is not really any alternative to using 5 and 4 for the top line in bars 39-40.

[Juan Carlos]

I am surprised that bars 39-40 and 44 have been picked out for special attention

Agreed.
There are quite a number of other bits in the piece which are a little more uncomfortable than these (from meory but I haven't played the piece for more than one year)

[Scaramouche]

Ah yes, I see, everything I find difficult must match what everyone else finds tricky with this piece.

What is the matter with people on here? A simple question, requiring a simple answer and instead I've been left feeling like a total failure for having difficulty with some bars. I shall think twice about bothering next time.

[Juan Carlos]

Ah yes, I see, everything I find difficult must match what everyone else finds tricky with this piece.

What is the matter with people on here? A simple question, requiring a simple answer and instead I've been left feeling like a total failure for having difficulty with some bars. I shall think twice about bothering next time.

No, you got me wrong. You're not a failure at all and I agree with you that everybody has difficulty with different things. When I agreed with VH2 but I was making a remark that concerned the music and my experience of this piece more than you and I spoke about the difficulties I had when I learnt the piece. I apologise if I sounded critical; I did not mean to in the least.

[VH2]

Ah yes, I see, everything I find difficult must match what everyone else finds tricky with this piece.

What is the matter with people on here? A simple question, requiring a simple answer and instead I've been left feeling like a total failure for having difficulty with some bars. I shall think twice about bothering next time.

There is nothing wrong with the people on here. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

It is important when using computerised forums not to be easily upset or offended, because it is quite easy to innocently say something that is taken the wrong way. I was simply expressing my genuine surprise that a particular pair of bars had been singled out when the solution appears to be the only possible fingering, and when there are many more sections that appear to be at least as difficult.

The idea of "thinking twice before bothering next time" cuts both ways.

I believe that the process of becoming a good pianist demands a certain thickness of skin to ignore or bounce back from the inevitable upsets, criticisms and from both intended and unintended slights.

[Juan Carlos]

Ah yes, I see, everything I find difficult must match what everyone else finds tricky with this piece.

What is the matter with people on here? A simple question, requiring a simple answer and instead I've been left feeling like a total failure for having difficulty with some bars. I shall think twice about bothering next time.

I had no reply to my apologetic PM. Did you read it?

[fsharpminor]

I have been playing this recently.
Bar 39 top notes 54 54 then bar 40 4 (tied from bar before) 5 then tied and 5 again
Inner part bar 40 124213 134213

Bar 44 sustain the E with 5. Inner part is 213214 213214

Hope that makes sense! Pleased to help another Wirralian

[fsharpminor]

I have been playing this recently.
Bar 39 top notes 54 54 then bar 40 4 (tied from bar before) 5 then tied and 5 again
Inner part bar 40 124213 134213

Bar 44 sustain the E with 5. Inner part is 213214 213214

Hope that makes sense! Pleased to help another Wirralian

How strange, when I posted as above, there were no other replies so I thought I was the first response, now there are several others before mine ! I wonder where they went before !