Bach: Keyboard Works

[pframe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunnyears I've been collecting Goldbergs looking for an ultimate Goldberg. I won't get into details, but I've acquired goldbergs by Pierre Hantaï (2 sets), Jory Vinocur (SACD), Ralph Kirkpatrick, Gustave Leonhardt, Scott Ross, Ketil Haugsend, Blandine Verlet, Christiane Jacottet, Kenneth Gilbert and others too numerous to name, but the one that has leapt to the forefront is the one by Céline Frisch. What a pleasure listening to her play! Although I haven't tracked down a Rousset Goldberg yet (and I have great hopes that Decca will reissue it), I doubt that it will supplant this one but if it is good enough, join it as the co-favorite. This one is really that good! I haven't been so excited about a harpsichord recording since I picked up Rousset's English Suites way back when (actually a just a few short months ago). First: Sound quality of this recording is excellent. She is playing a modern harpsichord that has a wonderfully warm and sonorous tone. There is not a tinny note on that instrument and the notes have that same "float through the air" quality that Rousset's wonderful Rucker has. Some of these notes are so irridescent that I think of wonderful soap bubbles being caught in the light streaming through a darkened room, just glowing until they suddenly vanish. Second: Interpretation is absolutely top notch! There is great rhythmic drive; this is not your grandmother's Bach. Tempos are quick without being rushed with all of the voices clearly articulated. The dance rhythms are firmly stated and they flow much as the dance flows and are extremely sensual. I'm sure that she's listened to her fellow Canadians Gould and Hewitt along with a lot of other Goldbergs. She has the advantage of at least one of the two in that she isn't compelled to tunelessly hum along so there is no distraction, which is really important as it means that nothing gets in the way of the music. As I write this, Variation 20 is rippling across the ether towards me. What a tour-de-force! And the slow variations are just executed with such deliberation and grace, they are like the kiss of a lover upon the ear. Ornamentation is perfect, it never feels superfluous or didactic as I have found it can. This is very intimate Bach, Bach for the bedroom (or boudoir) rather than Bach for the church or museum. That is probably the most striking quality of this recording, it's intimacy: just music and performer and listener. If Rousset's performances can be characterized as extroverted and social, these are equally so, but without some of his theatricality even while there is no lack of drama. Btw, for all of you purists, she takes all of the repeats and if it's just an engineer replaying tracks, it's got me fooled. Bonus: There is a second cd (which I haven't bothered to listen to yet as I can't get enough of the Goldbergs) which includes 14 Canons on the 8 first notes of the opening Aria, BWV 1087 and two songs from the period which were actually the basis or inspiration for the Aria according to the notes. I'll get around to that after I've thoroughly steeped myself in the Goldbergs. Packaging: Beautiful 2 disc digipak with booklet. When you open it, first you see the famous portrait of Bach and opposite, a detail of the score of the Goldbergs. Open the leaves, and the interior and you see a beautiful painting of Samuel van Hoogstraten's Quodlibet on the far right and the booklet to the far left framing the 2 cds. Surfaces are covered with a pale green marbled bookbinder's paper pattern. It is so elegant I really wish pictures of the interior were available.

Finally got around to listening to this one last night. OMG, Bunny, this is extraordinary! Thanks for the rec.

For the rest of you Bach GV fans -- esp. you Rousset champions -- the Frisch is a must-own-to-compare.

 

[Tyson]

After many attempts and a lot of listening, I've come to the conclusion that I simply prefer Bach on the piano. It's a more emotional connection on the piano for me. With a harpsichord I can appreciate the artistry and the performance, but it doesn't really touch me. Rousset, Gilbert, Suzuki, et al. just leave me a bit cold, regardless of the performance quality. Give me Hewitt, Perahia, or Schiff any day....

 

[Shosta]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyson After many attempts and a lot of listening, I've come to the conclusion that I simply prefer Bach on the piano. It's a more emotional connection on the piano for me. With a harpsichord I can appreciate the artistry and the performance, but it doesn't really touch me. Rousset, Gilbert, Suzuki, et al. just leave me a bit cold, regardless of the performance quality. Give me Hewitt, Perahia, or Schiff any day....

Harpsichord it's more 'divine' and Piano it's more 'human'.

Perhaps in general terms I prefer piano but when I listen to Bach on the harpsichord I concentrate in richness, harmonics, rubato,... I compare with the taste of a good Spanish Brandy or French Cognac.
But when I listen to Bach on the piano I listen more free. I feel it easier... In this case it's more like a good fresh beer in a hot day....

 

[Bunnyears]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyson After many attempts and a lot of listening, I've come to the conclusion that I simply prefer Bach on the piano. It's a more emotional connection on the piano for me. With a harpsichord I can appreciate the artistry and the performance, but it doesn't really touch me. Rousset, Gilbert, Suzuki, et al. just leave me a bit cold, regardless of the performance quality. Give me Hewitt, Perahia, or Schiff any day....

Yesterday I found some recordings of Bach on clavichord that had been recomnmended here. The clavichord is a smaller instrument that is similar to the harpsichord but very different in tone and technical specs. For one thing, the harpsichord uses a plectrum to pluck the strings whereas the clavichord uses a metal (usually brass) tangent to strike or brush the strings. This results in a softer tone with some dynamic range and a tone described as vibrato that is unobtainable on the harpsichord.

Anyway, after listening to the partitas on the clavichord with their very subtle shadings I realized that the music really is what it is all about. Harpsichord, piano, clavichord, spinet is unimportant to me so long as the work is performed well and is not done in a flat and plodding manner. If I have a recording of Bach on piano the one thing I don't want is someone who is playing the music in a manner that is unpianistic, not to mention the anti-piano (for lack of a better term) interpretations that I have heard. The piano is it's own instrument and trying to alter technique in order to approximate the effect of harpsichord or clavichord to make a truer interpretation of Bach is, in my opinion ridiculous. Piano, harpsichord, clavichord, organ all have their beauty and I love them all. The music is so great that it lends itself to each instrument and stands as a work of beauty. As for emotional pull, I find that the harpsichord in the right hands is a dramatic and fiery medium that speaks to my emotions as surely as the violin, cello or piano does.

 

[Bunnyears]

Rousset Re-issue from Decca!

CD 1
Goldberg Variations

CD 2
1-3 Italian Concerto, BWV 971
4-11 French Overture, BWV 831
12-15 4 Duetti, BWV 802-5
16-17 Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue, BWV 903

CD 3
Partita 1, BWV 825 · Partita 2, BWV 826 · Partita 6, BWV 830

CD 4
Partita 3, BWV 827 · Partita 4, BWV 828 · Partita 5, BWV 829

 

[robert]

any thoughts on Richard Goode??

 

[Bunnyears]

Quote:

Originally Posted by robert any thoughts on Richard Goode??

I love his Mozart but don't know his Bach.

 

[Hell_Gopher]

Man, what an awesome thread this is. I've also bought a couple of things based on recommendations here, I will let you know how they sound. I have that Celine Frisch recording of the Goldbergs, in fact it's the only copy of the Goldbergs I actually own. That's an awesome label, and they released another disc by Gustav Leonhardt which is a mix of harpsichord and claviorganum pieces by (among others) Bach, Byrd, and Gibbons. The three Bach pieces aren't really his most original or brilliant works, but they are very well-played and its a really good disc overall. It's simply called

Bach - Bull - Byrd - Gibbons - Hassler - Pachelbel - Ritter - Strogers

on Alpha, check it out...

 

[bigshot]

The most amazing Goldberg Variations that I've ever heard are the live set by Rosalyn Turek on VAI. In fact, all of the Turek CDs on VAI are essential. A lot of them are sourced from recordings made in private recitals at William F. Buckley's home. The playing is flexible, expressive and just plain beautiful. Miles away from the "math music" style of playing Bach. Glenn Gould said that Turek's was his favorite Goldberg.

See ya
Steve

 

[mickelae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunnyears Rousset Re-issue from Decca! CD 1 Goldberg Variations CD 2 1-3 Italian Concerto, BWV 971 4-11 French Overture, BWV 831 12-15 4 Duetti, BWV 802-5 16-17 Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue, BWV 903 CD 3 Partita 1, BWV 825 · Partita 2, BWV 826 · Partita 6, BWV 830 CD 4 Partita 3, BWV 827 · Partita 4, BWV 828 · Partita 5, BWV 829

has anybody been able to find this online? it says nov. 2005 release, but i cant find any online retailer who carries it.

 

[pframe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickelae has anybody been able to find this online? it says nov. 2005 release, but i cant find any online retailer who carries it.

Look further down in the same thread for post #16 by Bunnyears: http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=136949

It's available from HMV Australia, Amazon Germany, and jpc records. I just ordered from HMV Australia. Total with shipping to NY was AUS$52.44 (approx. US$38.00). That was about two dollars less than from Amazon Germany.

 

[Masolino]

This was released about six months ago and I was surprised to have found no mention to it in posts so far. This is an Ambrosie recording and the harpsichord sound is as fine as Rousset's French and English Suites. The 2-disc set (sold for the price of 1 disc here) contains not only the first versions of the Inventions and Sinfonias but also early versions of many preludes that later show up in the WTC. There are works by other composers (Richter, Stoelzel, Telemann) as well. The Klavierbüchlein stands most eloquent witness to JSB's fatherly love and devotion for his eldest son.

 

[Bunnyears]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masolino This was released about six months ago and I was surprised to have found no mention to it in posts so far. This is an Ambrosie recording and the harpsichord sound is as fine as Rousset's French and English Suites. The 2-disc set (sold for the price of 1 disc here) contains not only the first versions of the Inventions and Sinfonias but also early versions of many preludes that later show up in the WTC. There are works by other composers (Richter, Stoelzel, Telemann) as well. The Klavierbüchlein stands most eloquent witness to JSB's fatherly love and devotion for his eldest son.

Actually, Rousset used the same Ruckers that he used for the French and English Suites recordings, so it's no surprise that the sound is as good. I have this and have been quietly enjoying it for a few months. I actually thought I had mentioned it, but I guess I didn't for some reason.

It's an excellent recording but the packaging with it's pictures of Rousset as a child is a bit sentimental -- if effective. I suppose it would have made and lovely Mother's day present if I didn't already have it.

 

[Masolino]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunnyears It's an excellent recording but the packaging with it's pictures of Rousset as a child is a bit sentimental -- if effective. I suppose it would have made and lovely Mother's day present if I didn't already have it.

If one visits Rousset's own website http://www.christophe-rousset.com
it is clear that the conductor/harpsichordist has been doing some graphic
designs, too, not least for the brochures of his solo or operatic concerts.
I would be surprised if using his own childhood pictures isn't also an idea
from this enfant terrible.

 

[Bunnyears]

thanks for the link to his website. I hadn't even realized that he had so many interests.