Play Bach

The Bach Pianist

for pianists more experienced
with Bach’s music
that wants to present more than one work.

Contestants entering The Bach Pianist section,
must play all works by memory.

  • The names of the First-Prizewinners with their recordings will be uploaded onto the Competition’s YouTube Channel
  • Teachers of 1st prizewinners will be announced including their city and country of origin
  • All other Prizewinners and their teachers will be listed on the Prizewinners’ page of our website PLAY BACH!
  • All Prizewinners and their teachers will receive a certificate from the competition
  • All participants will receive written feedback from the jury.
 You can submit your application between 20 to 30 August 2023
The results will be announced on 30 September 2023

Entry fee: €60    /    1st Prize: €60 + Diploma

                           Participants must record 3 works in total: one work from List A, one from List B and one from List C.

 

List A
Choose one work from the list below

  • J. S. Bach: Canon on the Goldberg Ground No. 1a BWV 1087 – La Folia © Score 1a and 1b
  • J. S. Bach: Canon on the Goldberg Ground No. 1b BWV 1087
  • J. S. Bach: Canon on the Goldberg Ground No. 2a BWV 1087 – La Folia © Score 2a and 2b
  • J. S. Bach: Canon on the Goldberg Ground No. 2b BWV 1087

List B
Choose one work from the list below

  • J. S. Bach: Chorale –Schaff’s mit mir, Gott from the Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook, BWV Anh. 514 – La Folia © Score
  • J. S. Bach: Chorale – Gottes Sohn ist kommen, (2-part version) BWV 318 – La Folia © Score

List C
Choose one work from the list below

Works can be played with, or without repeats.

 

 You can submit your application between 20 to 30 August 2023
The results will be announced on 30 September 2023

Entry fee: €60    /    1st Prize: €60 + Diploma

                          Participants must record 3 works in total: one work from List A, one from List B and one from List C.

List A
Choose one work from the list below

List B
Choose one work from the list below

  • J. S. Bach: Chorale – Erschienen ist der herrliche Tag, (2-part version) BWV 145/5        La Folia © Score
  • J. S. Bach: Chorale – Jesu, meine Freude, (2-part version) BWV 64/8                             La Folia © Score

List C
Choose one work from the list below

  • G. P. Telemann: Vite in D major, TWV 33:16/3                                                                              La Folia © Score
  • C. Petzold: Menuet G major from the Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook, BWV Anh. 114             La Folia © Score
  • J. S. Bach: Aria from the Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook, BWV Anh. 515                                 La Folia © Score
  • J. S. Bach: Musette in D major from the Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook, BWV Anh. 126         La Folia © Score

Works can be played with, or without repeats.

 You can submit your application between 20 to 30 August 2023
The results will be announced on 30 September 2023

Entry fee: €60     /    1st Prize: €60 + Diploma

                         Participants must record 3 works in total: one work from List A, one from List B and one from List C.

List A
Choose one work from the list below

List B
Choose one work from the list below

  • J. S. Bach: Chorale –Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier, (2-part version) BWV 373 – La Folia © Score
  • J. S. Bach: Chorale – Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, (2-part version) BWV 62/6 – La Folia © Score

List C
Choose one work from the list below

  • C. P. E. Bach: March from the Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook, BWV Anh. 122 – La Folia © Score
  • J. P. Telemann: Gigue al’ Anglaise from Der getreue Musik-Meister – La Folia © Score
  • J. S. Bach: Aria from the Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook, BWV Anh. 515 – La Folia © Score
  • J. S. Bach: Gigue, from the Overture (Suite) in F major BWV 820 – Score

Works can be played with, or without repeats.

 You can submit your application between 20 to 30 September 2023
The results will be announced on 30 October 2023

Entry fee: €80    /    1st Prize: €80 + Diploma

                        Participants must record 3 works in total: one work from List A, one from List B and one from List C.

List A
Choose one work from the list below

List B
Choose one work from the list below

  • J. S. Bach: Chorale – Ich ruf zu Dir, Herr Jesu Christ, (2-part version) BWV 1124 – La Folia © Score
  • J. S. Bach: Chorale – In dulci jubilo, (2-part version) BWV 368 – La Folia © Score

List C
Choose one work from the list below

Works can be played with, or without repeats.

 

 

 You can submit your application between 20 to 30 September 2023
The results will be announced on 30 October 2023

Entry fee: €80   /    1st Prize: €80 + Diploma

                              Participants must record 2 works in total: one work from List A and one from List B .

List A
Choose one work from the list below.

List B
Choose one work from the list below.

  • J. S. Bach–A. Siloti: Prelude from the Cello Suite No. 1 – La Folia © Score
  • J. S. Bach: Minuet I and Minuet II from the Partita I in B-flat major BWV 825 (without repeats) – Score
  • J. S. Bach: Minuet I and Minuet II from the French Suite I in D minor BWV 812 (without repeats) – La Folia © Score
  • J. S. Bach: Fantasia in A minor BWV 922 (without Fugue section. Bars 1-34 1st beat only) – La Folia © Score
  • J. Pachelbel: Chaconne in D major (Theme and Variations) La Folia © Score

Works can be played with, or without repeats.

 You can submit your application between 20 to 30 September 2023
The results will be announced on 30 October 2023

Entry fee: €100    /    1st Prize: €100 + Diploma

                                         Participants must record 2 works in total: one work from List A and one from List B .

 

List A
Choose one work from the list below.

List B
Choose one work from the list below.

  • J. S. Bach–A. Siloti: Prelude from the Cello Suite No. 1 – La Folia © Score
  • J. S. Bach: Minuet I and Minuet II from the French Suite 2 in C minor BWV 813 (without repeats) – La Folia © Score
  • J. S. Bach: Minuet and Trio from the French Suite 3 in B minor BWV 814 (without repeats)        La Folia © Score
  • J. S. Bach: Fantasia duobus subiectis in G minor BWV 917 – Score
  • J. S. Bach: Six Little Preludes BWV 939–943 + 999 C minor – La Folia © Score

Works can be played with, or without repeats.

You can submit your application between 20 to 30 September 2023
The results will be announced on 30 October 2023

Entry fee: €100    /    1st Prize: €100 + Diploma

                            Participants must record 2 works in total: one work from List A and one from List B .

List A
Choose one work from the list below.

 

List B

Choose one work from the list below

  • J. A. Reincken–J. S. Bach: Adagio and Presto, 2nd and 3rd Movements (or 3rd 4th Movements in some editions) from the Sonata in A minor, BWV 965 – Score
  • J. A. Reincken– J. S. Bach: Adagio and Allegro, 2nd and 3rd movements, from the Sonata in C major, BWV 966 – Score
  • J. S. Bach: Minuet I and Minuet II from the English Suite No. 4 in F major BWV 809 – Score
  • J. S. Bach: Passepied I and Passepied II from the English Suite No. 5 in E minor BWV 809 – Score
  • J. S. Bach: Fantasia in C minor (without the Fugue), BWV 906 – Score
  • J. S. Bach: 1st or 3rd movement from the Italian Concerto, BWV 971 – Score

Works can be played with, or without repeats.

        You can submit your application between 20 to 30 October 2023
The results will be announced on 30 November 2023

Entry fee: €120     /    1st Prize: €120 + Diploma

                                    Participants must record 2 works in total: one work from List A and one from List B .

 

List A
Choose one work from the list below.

List B
Choose one work from the list below.

  • A. Vivaldi–J. S. Bach: Allegro (1st Movement) from Concerto No. 7 in F major, BWV 978 (based on a violin concerto A. Vivaldi, op. 3 no. 3) – Score
  • A. Vivaldi–J. S. Bach:  Allegro (3rd Movement) from Concerto No. 7 in F major, BWV 978 (based on a violin concerto A. Vivaldi, op. 3 no. 3) – Score
  • J. S. Bach: Gavotte I and Gavotte II from the French Overture in B minor BWV 831 – Score
  • J. S. Bach: Bourrée I and Bourrée II from the French Overture in B minor BWV 831 – Score
  • J. S. Bach: Prelude from the English Suite No. 3 in G minor, BWV 808 – Score
  • J. S. Bach: Preambulum from Partita No. 5 in G major, BWV 929 – Score

Works can be played with, or without repeats.

 

 You can submit your application between 20 to 30 October 2023
The results will be announced on 30 November 2023

Entry fee: €120     /    1st Prize: €120 + Diploma

Participants must record 2 works in total: one work from List A and one from List B .

 

List A
Choose one work from the list below

  • J. S. Bach: Any 1 Prelude & Fugue from the Well-tempered Clavier I or II – Score 1/Score 2

List B
Choose one work from the list below.

  • A. Vivaldi–J. S. Bach: Allegro (3rd Movement) from Concerto No. 9 in G major, BWV 980 (based on a violin concerto by A. Vivaldi, op. 4 no. 1) – Score
  • J. S. Bach: A Suite or a selection of movements from one Suite (for a full list of Suites see here) between 6 and 8 minutes
  • G. F. Handel: Chaconne in G major HWV 435 – Score
  • J. S. Bach: Capriccio in E major, BWV 993 – Score

Works can be played with, or without repeats.

You can submit your application between 20 to 30 November 2023
The results will be announced on 30 December 2023

Entry fee: €120     /    1st Prize: €240 + Diploma

Participants must record 2 works in total: one work from List A and one from List B .

 

List A
Choose one work from the list below

  • J. S. Bach: Any 1 Prelude & Fugue from the Well-tempered Clavier I or II – Score 1/Score 2

List B
Choose one work from the list below.

  • A. Vivaldi–J. S. Bach: Largo + Gigue (Presto), (2nd and 3rd Movements) from Concerto No. 4 in G minor, BWV 975 (based on a violin concerto by A. Vivaldi, op. 3 no. 12) – Score
  • J. S. Bach: A Suite or a selection of movements from one Suite (for a full list of Suites see here) between 8 and 10 minutes
  • J. S. Bach: Toccata in E minor, BWV 914 – Score
  • J. S. Bach: Capriccio in B-flat major, on The departure of his most beloved brother, BWV 992 – Score

Works can be played with, or without repeats.

You can submit your application between 20 to 30 December 2024
The results will be announced on 30 January 2024

Entry fee: €120     /    1st Prize: € 360 + Diploma

Participants must record 2 works in total: one work from List A and one from List B .

 

List A
Choose one work from the list below

  • J. S. Bach: Any 1 Prelude & Fugue from the Well-tempered Clavier I or II – Score 1 / Score 2
  • J. S. Bach: Any 1 Fugue from the Art of Fugue BWV 1080 – Score

List B
Choose one work from the list below.

  • A. Marcello–J. S. Bach: Concerto No. 3 in D minor (complete), BWV 974 (based on an oboe concerto by A. Marcello) – Score
  • J. S. Bach: A Suite or a selection of movements from one Suite (for a full list of Suites see here) between 10 and 12 minutes
  • J. S. Bach: 3-part Ricercar from the Musical Offering BWV 1079 – Score
  • J. S. Bach: Any 1 of the Toccatas with the exception of E minor (BWV 914) – Score
  • J. S. Bach: Aria variata, BWV 989 – Score
  • J. S. Bach: Chromatic Fantasia & Fugue – Score

Works can be played with, or without repeats.

 

You can submit your application between 20 to 30 January 2024
The results will be announced on 28 February 2024

Entry fee: €150     /    1st Prize: €800 + Diploma

Participants are being evaluated on a high standard of performance.
Thus, the jury is not obliged to award all the prizes.

Program consisting of:

at least ONE original work of J. S. Bach   AND   work(s) of the performer’s own choice from any period
(Please note: your program may also consist entirely of works by J. S. Bach)

  • Please choose original works by J. S. Bach (in case of doubt, consult the BWV).
  • Works have to be played by memory.
  • Works can be played with, or without repeats.

Minimum length 25 minutes. Maximum length 30 minutes.

…………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………………………………

To demonstrate the possibilities of program and repertoire choice, here are some SAMPLE PROGRAMS:

  • SAMPLE PROGRAM 1: Total time: 28:00
  1. J. S. Bach – French Suite No. 2 [without repeats] (8:40 minutes) 
  2. J. S. Bach – Prelude and Fugue in C minor book 1 (2:50 minutes)
  3. F. Chopin – Mazurkas Op. 63 (6:50 minutes)
  4. C. Debussy – Preludes book 1 Nos. 1-3 (9:40 minutes)

 ………………………………………………………………………………

  • SAMPLE PROGRAM 2: Total time: 26 minutes
  1. J. S. Bach – a selection of Preludes and Fugues

    ……………………………………………………………………………..

  • SAMPLE PROGRAM 3: Total time: 28:10
  1. J. S. Bach – Capriccio sopra la lontananza del suo fratello dilettissimo BWV 922 (10:50 minutes)
  2. J. Haydn – Sonata in F major (13:50 minutes)
  3. S. Rachmaninov – Etude Tableaux Op. 39 No. 1 (3:30 minutes)