The Bach Project: Chaconne

Ever wondered why some interpretations of Bach's solo works leave you breathless, and others feeling disappointed? Have you performed this music with technical success only to feel empty inside?

The day I played the final recital of my degree was the day I swore never to play Bach's solo works again — not because I performed badly, but because despite years of work I felt at a loss with this music. I played for famous teachers and knowledgeable colleagues and received plenty of advice, usually contrasting, yet I felt I was imitating fragments of ideas rather than truly understanding Bach's solo work.

Just as I was finishing my studies in Vienna, I was accepted as a teacher at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and suddenly found myself facing the same devilish fugues and the enigmatic Chaconne — this time as a teacher, with students relying on my answers. I had no choice but to doubt everything I'd been told and test every musical possibility for myself. What I found was the hidden beauty that had eluded me as a student.

Over the years, both as performer and teacher, I've developed my own tools for understanding the possibilities available when interpreting this work, and the impact of each choice on the overall interpretation. Imitation alone cannot bring you to play this music well — without understanding it to the core, the most you can achieve is an empty shell of technical mastery.

I hope my work helps you develop your own, personal voice within the strict boundaries of Bach's monumental composition.