Jonathan Ferrucci, the pianist, uses the sostenuto pedal on the modern Yamaha grand piano to maximize transparency in the fugues and sustain notes without compromising clarity.
Performer Biography
Jonathan Ferrucci, the pianist on this album, was told by his piano teacher, Giovanni Carmassi, not to become a musician unless he was fully committed, a psychological test that worked.
Interpretation
Jonathan Ferrucci believes that in the free sections of Bach's toccatas, it would be "sacrilegious" not to improvise or embellish, as the music invites additions.
Performer Biography
Jonathan Ferrucci dedicated this CD to his Italian teacher, Giovanni Carmassi, who taught him at the Florence conservatoire.
Composition History
No manuscript by Bach himself exists for any of the seven surviving harpsichord toccatas, which researchers believe were composed during his youth.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Jonathan Ferrucci perceives Bach's music as a sublimation of compositional rigor and musical freedom, tradition and future vision, discipline and imagination.
Compositional Technique
The toccata, from the Italian 'toccare' meaning 'to touch' or 'to strike', is an instrumental piece for keyboard instruments, characterized by improvisatory and virtuoso sections.
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