Harpsichord or piano?

[Bunny]

The first part, I don't know if I agree with, I think that piano in the right hands delivers the vibrancy more clearly. Plus even if it does not, the flip side will be that harpischord will be too vibrant for the slower minor sonatas to which piano can easily adjust itself.

For the second part, I completely agree. The funny thing is I noticed that just a few days ago when I received my Landowska Scarlatti CD and witnessed that guitar effect for the first time. And I was completely amazed. That being said,  I only had two harpischord (one Staier and one Ross) CDs of Scarlatti before, and I had not noticed either of them showcasing the effect.

If you like Landowska doing Scarlatti, then you should try to get some of Puyana's Scarlatti cds.

My introduction to Scarlatti was Vladimir Horowitz; he never performed anything on a harpsichord.  Sudbin's recording of the Scarlatti sonatas is excellent and it's also on a piano.  On harpsichord I have recordings by Scott Ross, Puyana, Rousset, Landowska, Staier, and more.  I have numerous recordings of Bach, Soler, Sweelinck mostly on harpsichord but also on piano.  There are harpsichord recordings that are not as good as the piano recordings and vice versa.  It really depends on the artist as much as the instrument.  Scarlatti or Bach on piano can sound as bewitching as it does on harpsichord, if it's done well. The music really transcends the instrument because when you are listening to great music it's always going to be greater than the performance.  If it weren't, then one recording of each work would be all anyone would ever need, and no one would bother to try to perform the works again.

[orbital]

They are extraordinary to play, quite unprecedented. We're talking dense clusters of 6 or 7 notes in the left hand, sometimes nearly as many in the right as well, but weighed up really subtly - he doesn't just repeat the same clusters, but varies them and adds internal ornaments so boldly and brazenly. Wow!

I would love to hear others who can manage that. In some passages with Landowska, the instrument sounds exactly like a guitar. From what I heard from Ross (BEst Sonatas CD off his set) there wasn't any such fancy work 

[orbital]

If you like Landowska doing Scarlatti, then you should try to get some of Puyana's Scarlatti cds.

My introduction to Scarlatti was Vladimir Horowitz; he never performed anything on a harpsichord.  Sudbin's recording of the Scarlatti sonatas is excellent and it's also on a piano.  On harpsichord I have recordings by Scott Ross, Puyana, Rousset, Landowska, Staier, and more. 

Thanks I'll look around for Puyana.

I recently got Sudbin, and I agree it's excellent, but Scarlatti on piano closest to Horowitz's level that I have heard (thanks to Drasko) was Tomsic.

[Sergeant Rock]

Of course, these are flaws for a lot of music, no doubt. But they are perfect for many other pieces, like Scarlatti sonatas, like Couperin Ordres...

Okay, you sold me. I've read some reviews, listened to some samples, and heard the guitar effect; it is striking. Luke, (anyone?) do you have any comments about Pierre Hantaï's performances on the Mirare label? They are highly thought of at ClassicsToday:

http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=9822
http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=9232

Sarge

[orbital]

Okay, you sold me. I've read some reviews, listened to some samples, and heard the guitar effect; it is striking. Luke, (anyone?) do you have any comments about Pierre Hantaï's performances on the Mirare label? They are highly thought of at ClassicsToday:

http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=9822
http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=9232

Sarge

I just saw today on Pristine Classical's website that they have the Landowska CD, and the sound is much improved.
http://www.pristineclassical.com/LargeWorks/Keyboard/PAKM004.php

[Bunny]

Okay, you sold me. I've read some reviews, listened to some samples, and heard the guitar effect; it is striking. Luke, (anyone?) do you have any comments about Pierre Hantaï's performances on the Mirare label? They are highly thought of at ClassicsToday:

http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=9822
http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=9232

Sarge

Pierre Hantaï's Scarlatti is really excellent, you need not hesitate to pick any of them up.  He has technique to burn, and Scarlatti's compositional style really suits him to a tee.  Sometimes even Jed Distler gets it right.  Volume 3 came out last year, I'm hoping it wasn't the last one Hantaï is going to record. 

[Bunny]

I would love to hear others who can manage that. In some passages with Landowska, the instrument sounds exactly like a guitar. From what I heard from Ross (BEst Sonatas CD off his set) there wasn't any such fancy work 

Sometimes I wonder if that guitar effect was partly the result of the strange sound of  her Pleyel harpsichord and the way it was recorded back in then.  I think Rousset's Scarlatti also had a lot of the "guitar" effect as well, but my memory may not be accurate -- it's been a long time since I played that cd.  Just took a quick listen to the samples at Amazon and I believe that is the one I'm thinking of.

[Sergeant Rock]

Pierre Hantaï's Scarlatti is really excellent, you need not hesitate to pick any of them up.  He has technique to burn, and Scarlatti's compositional style really suits him to a tee.  Sometimes even Jed Distler gets it right.

Miracles do happen. 

But that's precisely why I wanted a second opinion. Thanks, Bunny. I can buy confidently now.

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

I just saw today on Pristine Classical's website that they have the Landowska CD, and the sound is much improved.
http://www.pristineclassical.com/LargeWorks/Keyboard/PAKM004.php

Thanks, I'll look into this.

Sarge

[Drasko]

For those interested to taste I've uploaded three Scarlatti Sonatas played by Pierre Hantai (K54, K175, K492). Ripped them in 224 Kbps, so should sound nice enough to be played loudly (please do). Warning: K175 is not for the faint of heart.

http://www.yousendit.com/download/UVJpQk0xeWEwVWswTVE9PQ

http://www.yousendit.com/download/UVJpQk00NHZBNkUwTVE9PQ

http://www.yousendit.com/download/UVJpQk00eDNiR0kwTVE9PQ

[Steve]

For those interested to taste I've uploaded three Scarlatti Sonatas played by Pierre Hantai (K54, K175, K492). Ripped them in 224 Kbps, so should sound nice enough to be played loudly (please do). Warning: K175 is not for the faint of heart.

http://www.yousendit.com/download/UVJpQk0xeWEwVWswTVE9PQ

http://www.yousendit.com/download/UVJpQk00NHZBNkUwTVE9PQ

http://www.yousendit.com/download/UVJpQk00eDNiR0kwTVE9PQ

Thanks for the upload. 

As to my preference between the two intstruments, I'll take the path of the moderate, and say that it's relative to the music played. As to Baroque, I demand harpiscord, but anything past the High Classical Period generally doesn't work for me.

[FideLeo]

Well using original instruments is certainly important if one wants to hear the music in its original colours.  Transcendence or no transcendence, it all depends on how one conceptualises the music. 

[Florestan]

For those interested to taste I've uploaded three Scarlatti Sonatas played by Pierre Hantai (K54, K175, K492). Ripped them in 224 Kbps, so should sound nice enough to be played loudly (please do). Warning: K175 is not for the faint of heart.

http://www.yousendit.com/download/UVJpQk0xeWEwVWswTVE9PQ

http://www.yousendit.com/download/UVJpQk00NHZBNkUwTVE9PQ

http://www.yousendit.com/download/UVJpQk00eDNiR0kwTVE9PQ

Thanks, Drasko! Splendid performances, indeed. And I also second Tomsic on piano as being outstanding.

[val]

In general, I prefer the harpsichord. After all, the music of that period was conceived according to the characteristics of the instrument.

There are some exceptions, when a pianist gives an extraordinary performance: Friedrich Gulda in Bach's WTC, Glenn Gould in the Goldberg Variations, Lipatti in the First Partita or Horowitz in Scarlatti's Sonatas.

[Maciek]

Re the Scarlatti Sonatas: Bernstein liked Marek Drewnowski (piano).

[Sergeant Rock]

For those interested to taste I've uploaded three Scarlatti Sonatas played by Pierre Hantai (K54, K175, K492). Ripped them in 224 Kbps, so should sound nice enough to be played loudly (please do). Warning: K175 is not for the faint of heart.

Thanks, Drasko. Very much appreciated. You and Bunny have convinced me to push the buy button (K175 is on Hantai's first volume and that's in stock at JPC)...it might even convince me the harpsichord isn't so bad afterall 

Sarge

[mahlertitan]

horse or car?

[Bogey]

Piano when it comes to solo pieces....harpsichord otherwise, but only as long as it compliments and does not dominate.

[Que]

The sound of the harpsichord is something that has to grow on you, I've experienced.
When it does, there is a whole new world out there!

I still have my piano favourites though: Gould/Bach, Horowitz/Scarlatti, Casadesus/Rameau.

Q

[Bunny]

The sound of the harpsichord is something that has to grow on you, I've experienced.
When it does, there is a whole new world out there!

Q

With a harpsichord, the sound of each individual instrument is unique, unlike the generic Steinway D pianos crafted for conformity of tone.  Vladimir Horowitz insisted on touring with his own Steinway of early 20th century manufacture.  He claimed that it had a particular "nasal" tone that no other piano had.  I wish that pianos would be as individual as violins, then there would be that extra quality for each soloist.  Until then, I'll just keep my harpsichord recordings close by.