I am learning this quite beautiful piece and have got the notes "under my fingers", starting to play large parts without looking up (or in some parts even opening my eyes - must be careful of that or I find myself leaving fingers on when they shouldn't be and off when they should be!). More importantly I'm starting to put more expression and dynamics in, so here's the question:

Is it considered acceptable to play a slight ritardando in bars 47 and 64 ( with an a tempo in bars 48 and 65)? In each case it is just before the re-introduction of the main theme, (in the left hand in bar 48) so the slight rit there seems right (to me)

I think it's perfectly acceptable to pull the tempo around a bit - Bach isn't meant to be played mechanically, and the good thing about baroque music is that you can take on your own dynamics and tempo if you like.

Thankyou - I was beginning to wonder if anyone would answer at all!!