Topic: Bach's Bungalow

[Mandryka]

I forgot about this one - somehow in my head I only remembered the chaconne but there’s also 1001 and 1004. The playing is very expressive - 1001 fugue presented like it’s music in the empfindsamer style - a certain loss of poise but the sacrifice may be worth it.

https://www.discogs.com/release/17819872-Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Emma-Kirkby-Carlos-Mena-2-Jos%C3%A9-Miguel-Moreno-De-Occulta-Philosophia

[SonicMan46]

Just going through my plucked Bach (excluding harpsichord) at greater leisure.



Hopkinson Smith has also done the Partita for Solo Flute on lute!
This was one of my earliest discs (bought around 1989) and still in the catalogue! The Lute Suite (=Cello Suite 5) is very fine, Allemande particularly.

 

Slava Grigoryan plays the Bach Cello Suites on two disks on a baritone guitar, which is a very fine instrument. I don't normally like guitar music because of the overtones (acoustic not cultural), but this instrument has fine overtones. He uses a normal clasical guitar for the Sixth Suite       

Thanks calyptorhynchus for pointing out Grigoryan (already have plenty of Smith & North as shown in my previous post) - listened to his Vol. 1 on Spotify and greatly enjoyed the guitar sound and the lower tuning - but hard to find the physical discs; both are at PrestoMusic for $15.50 each (plus usually $2 shipping per CD for me 'across the pond'); more expensive at JPC and used copies priced ridiculously at Discogs; otherwise DLs which I rarely do.  Just put together a playlist of both volumes on Spotify - will take a listen on my den stereo.  Dave

[SonicMan46]

If you can access it, see what you think of Matthias Kläger’s recordings. Guitar. They just caught my attention as rather poetic, that’s all.

They’re on Spotify here in the UK, and on YouTube. This is the link that I’m using

https://open.spotify.com/album/3CM10MvcyyhoULzV6CXcfb

https://www.discogs.com/sell/release/14609661?ev=rb

Hi Mandryka - was able to listen to Kläger this morning on Spotify - excellent!  For those looking closely at the cover, he is doing only the sonatas from the 'Sonatas & Partitas' set (BWV 1001-1006).  For those wanting all 6 works on guitar, I own the Frank Bungarten 2-disc set from MDG (excellent review here); also have Hopkinson Smith on a baroque lute (MP3 DL - physical discs outrageously expensive or maybe I've not looked hard enough -  )  Dave

 

[Mandryka]

BWV 1006 is for me not an easy suite for violinists and I can’t really think of anyone who makes it sound as interesting as Asperen does here

[calyptorhynchus]

I understand that BWV1006 is easier to play a Baroque violin than a modern one, though still a superhuman achievement.

[Mandryka]

I understand that BWV1006 is easier to play a Baroque violin than a modern one, though still a superhuman achievement.

That's interesting - I remember enjoying it on viol. This one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNXr-Zp3hYo&ab_channel=SusanneHeinrich-Topic

[calyptorhynchus]

That's interesting - I remember enjoying it on viol. This one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNXr-Zp3hYo&ab_channel=SusanneHeinrich-Topic

Thanks, I'll listen to that, I'm always ready to listen to Bach arrangements. Funny that any more recent music seems to resist arrangement much more.

As to the Baroque violin I think the bridge is flatter so it's easier to bow chords. Modern violins raised the bridge so the strings are fractionally further apart, meaning you can play notes louder... please any violinists correct this if it's wrong.

[JBS]

There were also some differences between Baroque and modern bows that affect playing technique.

There's also something called the curved bow which supposedly was in use in Bach's day. I have this.

It's been years since I listened to it, but I don't remember hearing any important differences from standard bows.

[(: premont :)]

There were also some differences between Baroque and modern bows that affect playing technique.

There's also something called the curved bow which supposedly was in use in Bach's day. I have this.

It's been years since I listened to it, but I don't remember hearing any important differences from standard bows.

I culled this some years ago.

Firstly I didn't think his interpretation was that engaging.

Secondly he lets the long notes sound a bit longer than on can do with a standard bow, but since one already hears the notes in question in one's inner ear, his efforts add nothing of practical interest.