Bach Better Than Handel

[Bulldog]

Sweelinck was a much greater composer then Weckman.

I would take issue with the "much greater" designation, finding each of them quite compelling.

[karlhenning]

Does no-nonsense playing means making a mush out of the texture?

What a peculiar question.

Is it a great many friends you've got?

[prémont]

Does no-nonsense playing means making a mush out of the texture? Do those "informed" players understand that clarity means everything when playing polyphony?

No, "no-nonsense" means excactly the opposite: creating a lush texture. And I think these musicians know the importance of clarity of expression and transparency of polyphony very well. My only comment is that some of them sometimes are a bit  neutral in expression.This is certainly intended and not a result of lacking engagement. To quote Pieter-Jan Belders notes to his second recording of the WTC:

I am not pretending to be original in the present recording. I didn´t become a musician in order to be an "artist" , to present myself or my own ideas. If that were the case,( in casu ) Bach´s composition would be merely a vehicle for my own views, rather than an artwork in its own right. I would rather exhibit the art contained in the composition before me. That´s what musicians are for. ..The artwork is the sound itself, preferably a sound as close to the composer´s intention as possible.

[prémont]

My previous impressions do favour the harpsichord discs.

Well, many of the organ works are rather difficult accessible for the listener, especially some of the chorale arrangements. The harpsichord works are more immediately rewarding to play and to listen to.

[prémont]

I would take issue with the "much greater" designation, finding each of them quite compelling.

So would I, - actually I would rank them equally.

[prémont]

What a peculiar question.

Yes, and even if Josquin has edited his post and added a sort of explanation, I am not sure, that I understand what he asks about.

[Josquin des Prez]

I am not pretending to be original in the present recording. I didn´t become a musician in order to be an "artist" , to present myself or my own ideas. If that were the case,( in casu ) Bach´s composition would be merely a vehicle for my own views, rather than an artwork in its own right. I would rather exhibit the art contained in the composition before me. That´s what musicians are for. ..The artwork is the sound itself, preferably a sound as close to the composer´s intention as possible.

This man understand nothing of what being a musician is all about. Hey, here's an idea. Why not merely feed the music to a machine? Why bother with the middle man?

[Josquin des Prez]

Since I don't know Sweelinck's music that well I can't comment that. All I say is that Matthias Weckmann was a mighty figure of his time. I'm particularly impressed by his "O lux beata trinitas".

Maybe i can help you understand. There wouldn't be any Matthias Weckmann without Sweelinck. What he did to organ music is wholly comparable to what Beethoven did to the symphony.

[Josquin des Prez]

I would take issue with the "much greater" designation, finding each of them quite compelling.

Of course you would. Discrimination is a sacrilegious offense according to the faux-egalitarian-but-actually-relativist world view. We must homogenize everything until the world becomes a single shade of gray.

[Bulldog]

Of course you would. Discrimination is a sacrilegious offense according to the faux-egalitarian-but-actually-relativist world view. We must homogenize everything until the world becomes a single shade of gray.

Oh, get off the soapbox.  I'm entitled to my own opinions of the worth of a composer without you bringing up your views of how the world is turning.

[prémont]

This man understand nothing of what being a musician is all about.

But you surely do understand all of it.

[Coopmv]

Oh, get off the soapbox.  I'm entitled to my own opinions of the worth of a composer without you bringing up your views of how the world is turning.

Exactly, we do not need any opinion police here ...

[71 dB]

Maybe i can help you understand. There wouldn't be any Matthias Weckmann without Sweelinck. What he did to organ music is wholly comparable to what Beethoven did to the symphony.

Isn't it interesting when someone walks through open doors (opened or at least unlocked by someone else) to see what's on the other side? To me it is.

[jochanaan]

This man understand nothing of what being a musician is all about. Hey, here's an idea. Why not merely feed the music to a machine? Why bother with the middle man?

No, his is a perfectly legitimate approach, with creditable humility.  If you're going to play Bach at all, you need first to play what he's written, then legitimately add ornamentations or improvisations in the Baroque style; otherwise you're distorting what Bach wrote.  (Caveat: I haven't heard the recording. )