Bach on the harpsichord, lute-harpsichord, clavichord

[jlaurson]

Is it controversial in any way? I have ordered it, but a fortnight may easily pass untill I receive it.

No, there's absolutely nothing controversial about her WTC, and the sound is gorgeous.

[milk]

No, there's absolutely nothing controversial about her WTC, and the sound is gorgeous.

I think the new Rannou Goldberg recording is the most interesting recent Bach keyboard release.

[milk]

Is it controversial in any way? I have ordered it, but a fortnight may easily pass untill I receive it.

On the contrary I find his Bach heavily underarticulated, bordering the sleep-provoking.

How do you feel about Belder's WTC?

[Mandryka]

I noticed a  copy of set of Lars Ulrik Mortensen's partitas  and that started of a renewed interest in this music.

Anyway, one striking thing I've noticed is his  partita 5, which has  energy and good humour. More than most, he communicates joy, at least to me. Much the same in some of the other partitas, but 5 has caught my attention a lot.

And the final fugue!! I've become addicted to it.

Any suggestions for good Partita 5s -- especially lives or dark horses, much appreciated -- even if it's just an outstanding fugue.

[jlaurson]

Gustav Leonhardt Plays On

Keyboardist, Baroque Master Gustav Leonhardt Dies at 83
Dirigent Gustav Leonhardt gestorben

http://www.youtube.com/v/kk4WVN-48Hc

[Kontrapunctus]

What about Mayako Sone?



I'm selling my copy on Amazon. I like her playing, but I prefer multichannel SACDs.

[Leo K.]

I don't know what to say, except this recording is incredible! Wow!

[milk]

Well, you can always use the internet. If you like them, you can buy them once you find a good used copy. Some of his recordings, like the Couperin set, have been out of print for years, so you might as well hit a p2p or emule network and worry about buying an hard copy later, if you ever find one.

Do you think his version of the partitas is especially enlightening? Is it as interesting as Leonhardt's and Suzuki's? 

[Josquin des Prez]

I haven't found it to download. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places. I don't need a hard copy and, of course, I'm willing to pay for it. But not 50$.

http://avaxhome.ws/music/classical/scott_ross_bach_6_partitas_bwv_825_830_erato.html

Try to see if those links are still up. If not i'll think of a way to upload the files myself.

Do you think his version of the partitas is especially enlightening? Is it as interesting as Leonhardt's and Suzuki's?

You can check it out for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIAf9bBvieY

Its hard to pin down why i like those performances so much. I think he just gets everything right. The rhythm, the counterpoint, the general pace of the music. Everything just seems to flow in a perfectly harmonious whole, as if he was just improvising the music. A lot of harpsichordists have a tendency to sound disjointed since they are so focused on the detail that they forget the whole. With Ross, everything flows in a perfectly straight line, but the detail remains there.

Maybe its only because i like Bach so much but i think this is the best recording he has ever made.

[Antoine Marchand]

Do you think his version of the partitas is especially enlightening? Is it as interesting as Leonhardt's and Suzuki's?

I don't have the partitas by Ross, but I consider Verlet (2nd version on Naïve) and Dubreuil (Rameé) are excellent additions to Leonhardt and Suzuki. I think it's a good exercise to compare Ross and Verlet in the sinfonia of the 2nd partita (both are quite different, indeed):

http://youtu.be/GCvEWX5yRAQ

[milk]

http://avaxhome.ws/music/classical/scott_ross_bach_6_partitas_bwv_825_830_erato.html

Try to see if those links are still up. If not i'll think of a way to upload the files myself.

You can check it out for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIAf9bBvieY

Its hard to pin down why i like those performances so much. I think he just gets everything right. The rhythm, the counterpoint, the general pace of the music. Everything just seems to flow in a perfectly harmonious whole, as if he was just improvising the music. A lot of harpsichordists have a tendency to sound disjointed since they are so focused on the detail that they forget the whole. With Ross, everything flows in a perfectly straight line, but the detail remains there.

Maybe its only because i like Bach so much but i think this is the best recording he has ever made.

Thanks so much for trying but I can't seem to make this work. Now I want this more than ever.

[Leo K.]

http://avaxhome.ws/music/classical/scott_ross_bach_6_partitas_bwv_825_830_erato.html

Try to see if those links are still up. If not i'll think of a way to upload the files myself.

You can check it out for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIAf9bBvieY

Its hard to pin down why i like those performances so much. I think he just gets everything right. The rhythm, the counterpoint, the general pace of the music. Everything just seems to flow in a perfectly harmonious whole, as if he was just improvising the music. A lot of harpsichordists have a tendency to sound disjointed since they are so focused on the detail that they forget the whole. With Ross, everything flows in a perfectly straight line, but the detail remains there.

Maybe its only because i like Bach so much but i think this is the best recording he has ever made.

Thanks very much for the heads up on Scott Ross' account of Bach's Partitas. I have been listening to this  and I'm floored! You describe the performance well.

I've also grabbed more Ross recordings, and can't wait to explore his WTC books 1 and 2, I sampled it already and I'm intrigued at the faster speeds and objectivity in book 1, the instrument reminds me of a clavichord too.

[prémont]

I don't have the partitas by Ross, but I consider Verlet (2nd version on Naïve) and Dubreuil (Rameé) are excellent additions to Leonhardt and Suzuki.

Instead of Verlet and Dubreuil I would rather choose Mortensen and Belder. 

And then there are Gilbert and Jaccottet, but they may be difficult to find.

[Antoine Marchand]

Instead of Verlet and Dubreuil I would rather choose Mortensen and Belder. 

Yes, both of them are fine sets, but offer less variety and contrast than Verlet and Dubreuil, compared to Leonhardt and Suzuki.

[prémont]

Yes, both of them are fine sets, but offer less variety and contrast than Verlet and Dubreuil, compared to Leonhardt and Suzuki.

Well, so far one considers variety the most important guiding principle.

[milk]

Well, so far one considers variety the most important guiding principle.

Well, I'm not sure if this doesn't belong in the Bach thread but today I listened to Mortensen's partitas and quite enjoyed them.
For a long time I couldn't find any performance of the partitas that I could get into as much as Leonhardt's and Suzuki's. But I quite admire
Mortensen's set. His performance of the 6th partita really got me. It's quite an adventure. For some reason, I haven't been able to get into Pinnock
or Rousset so much but the fault may be my own. Anyway, having been able to hear a couple of tracks from Ross I'm intrigued. I had never heard of Puyana
until reading this thread today. I wonder if that's something I need to look into.   

[Antoine Marchand]

Well, so far one considers variety the most important guiding principle.

Well, I never suggested that. I mean "variety" as "the most important guiding principle" to choose a recording.

[prémont]

Well, I never suggested that. I mean "variety" as "the most important guiding principle" to choose a recording.

OK, a modification: Not the most important, but an important guiding principle.

I have no problems with either of Verlets recordings of the partitas, but I know that some consider her second set wilfull and excentric. So I think one has to be cautious as to the the recommendation of this set.

Concerning Debreuil contra Belder I think their interpretations are of the same kind (compared to f.i. Leonhardt and Suzuk)i. And even if I like Dubruil´s take, I much prefer Belders.

[prémont]

Well, I'm not sure if this doesn't belong in the Bach thread but today I listened to Mortensen's partitas and quite enjoyed them.
For a long time I couldn't find any performance of the partitas that I could get into as much as Leonhardt's and Suzuki's. But I quite admire
Mortensen's set. His performance of the 6th partita really got me. It's quite an adventure.

I am probably a bit chauvinistic, but I find Mortensens Bach partitas as mandatory as Leonhardt´s.

For some reason, I haven't been able to get into Pinnock
or Rousset so much but the fault may be my own.

Maybe or not. I feel in the same way, finding particulary Pinnock somewhat aloft in the partitas.

[milk]

I am probably a bit chauvinistic, but I find Mortensens Bach partitas as mandatory as Leonhardt´s.
Maybe or not. I feel in the same way, finding particulary Pinnock somewhat aloft in the partitas.

I'm glad it's not just me. Are you also enamored with Ross's partitas? I recently acquired a recording of
Skip Sempé playing 828. I know the field is crowded, but I wonder why he's never recorded a complete
Bach set.