Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier

[Spotted Horses]

I kind of liked it, for a change.  The sound of the organ did not bother me.  But don't know how many P/F I can take. She can play, that's for sure.

I heard some prominent beating in the first prelude, which was a turnoff. Maybe an interesting "well-tempered" tuning? Perhaps accentuated by the overwhelming soundstage in the recording? Anyway, didn't work for me.

[Mandryka]

I think it takes a considerable adjustment to get into the swing of it, if you can't obliterate the memory of other performances. The organ brings more than a change to timbre - it's as if the instrument leads her to new ideas for touch and phrasing and balance. Still haven't heard her Bk 1 by the way.

One thing I have noticed  is the absence of pompousness. Whether that means that the interpretation is too small scale is a moot point IMO. It's one thing to say it's light, relaxed, domestic. The flip side of that is that it doesn't have much by way of seriousness,  gravitas.  But still, it's a good thing that the recording poses these questions, gives food for thought.


 

I tried prelude and fugue I from book I. I found it unlistenable. Got halfway through the prelude before I had to turn it off.

[prémont]

I think it takes a considerable adjustment to get into the swing of it, if you can't obliterate the memory of other performances. The organ brings more than a change to timbre - it's as if the instrument leads her to new ideas for touch and phrasing and balance. Still haven't heard her Bk 1 by the way.

One thing I have noticed  is the absence of pompousness. Whether that means that the interpretation is too small scale is a moot point IMO. It's one thing to say it's light, relaxed, domestic. The flip side of that is that it doesn't have much by way of seriousness,  gravitas.  But still, it's a good thing that the recording poses these questions, gives food for thought.


 

I had no problems at all. What attracts me is precisely the small scale domestic air.

BTW Naoya Otsuka is a he, not a she.

[San Antone]

BTW Naoya Otsuka is a he, not a she.

Oh.  I was working off of this photo on Spotify. Maybe there are two musicians with the same name?



I was a bit confused with her holding an oboe, but thought, well maybe she plays organ too.

[JBS]

His Youtube channel is here
https://youtube.com/channel/UCRW9-2zT90bH1hWHeafroeA?feature=shared

As of now, it's simply uploads of the WTC recording.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Oh.  I was working off of this photo on Spotify. Maybe there are two musicians with the same name?



I was a bit confused with her holding an oboe, but thought, well maybe she plays organ too.

He is a professor at Tokyo Art University, the most prestigious conservatory in Japan.


http://waonrecords.jp/waoncd390.html

[milk]

Something to enjoy:

[prémont]

Something to enjoy:

I can only find mp3 download.

[Mandryka]

I can only find mp3 download.

It's here

https://www.acisproductions.com/matthew-dirst-bach-well-tempered-clavier-book-1-harpsichord

[prémont]

It's here

https://www.acisproductions.com/matthew-dirst-bach-well-tempered-clavier-book-1-harpsichord

Thanks. 

I have purchased and downloaded it as FLAC files.

[milk]

Robert Silverman, Book 1. This is on the Steinway label. He must be very well known but I'd never heard of him. I think this is his first Bach recording. I can only give broad outlines of these things but he's another one worth trying out because he doesn't rely on pianism much at all. I mean he doesn't rely on dynamics to make his point. He even reminds me of Demus in the way that he's not overly soft, in his lack of overt pedaling, in his touch. I hope he does Book 2.

[Selig]

Any thoughts on this yet?

Between Suzuki, Cera, Dirst, Staier... I'm a bit overwhelmed with all the new options. Baiano does stand out, though, and I've been enjoying parts of his set.

[bioluminescentsquid]

Something to enjoy:

I found this one to be underwhelming - typical risk-adverse American baroque without much new to offer. But hopefully my attitudes about it change after a bit more listening.

[prémont]

I found this one [Matthew Dirst WTC book I]to be underwhelming - typical risk-adverse American baroque without much new to offer. But hopefully my attitudes about it change after a bit more listening.

I share the same sentiment. The thought of relistening doesn't inspire me that much.

[Que]

I found this one to be underwhelming - typical risk-adverse American baroque without much new to offer. But hopefully my attitudes about it change after a bit more listening.

I share the same sentiment. The thought of relistening doesn't inspire me that much.

Same here.

Any thoughts on this yet?

Between Suzuki, Cera, Dirst, Staier... I'm a bit overwhelmed with all the new options. Baiano does stand out, though, and I've been enjoying parts of his set.

I found Suzuki 1st recording (is this a new/ 2nd one?) uneventful but very well executed. But I admit not being a fan. None of the others are serious competition IMO, but then again even though I am a Baiano fan and love his recent recording of the Toccatas, I found his WTC strangely off.

The more "recent" recordings I did found interesting are Colin Booth and Steven Devine.

[prémont]

I found Suzuki 1st recording (is this a new/ 2nd one?) uneventful but very well executed. But I admit not being a fan.

The new Suzuki WTC book I is made by Masato Suzuki (son), and not by Masaaki Suzuki (father). I wonder if the son is going to record more Bach for BIS, which his father already has recorded.

The most "recent" recordings I did found interesting are Colin Booth and Steven Devine.

Agree completely. I think these two are among the most rewarding recordings ever made of the WTC.

[Selig]

Another new recording to consider: Davide Pozzi

Available on streaming platforms but I can't tell if it has been released physically because I can't seem to access the label's website (https://mvcremona.it/)

[Mandryka]

Another new recording to consider: Davide Pozzi

Available on streaming platforms but I can't tell if it has been released physically because I can't seem to access the label's website (https://mvcremona.it/)

Just book 1 unfortunately. It's downloadable on Qobuz.

[Leo K.]

I have been listening to Schiff's account on ECM - a very nice sounding recording, apollonian in tone, love the small details in the flow.

[prémont]

Just book 1 unfortunately. It's downloadable on Qobuz.

Presto only lists book I, so maybe he hasn't recorded book II yet.
His Goldbergs are good but not sensational IMO.
I found his Pasquini organ CD underwhelming. Nice organ though.