Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier

[Scarpia]

You're a hard man to please when it comes to sound quality; I don't find Gould's sound bad at all.

As for either of the Barenboim sets, they shouldn't be gathering dust on your shelves; they should be in the next refuse pick-up.

He did two?  I have a set from Warner Classics.

[kishnevi]

Any opinions about Pollini's recent release of Book I?

To add my $.02, I'm perfectly satisfied with the sonics and the musicianship on Gould's recordings. Out of those that I have heard of his recordings (most of them Bach), the only recording of his that I have not been impressed by is the Hindemith sonatas, and I suspect that's because of Hindemith, not Gould.

[Lilas Pastia]

In the current issue of American Record Guide, the recent Pieter Belder Brilliant Classics set was hailed as worthy to stand on the same footing as Dantone and Maasuki. I mean, Suzuki. Considering the price advantage, I think I'll go for it as a replacement to The Olde Verlet nad Moroney versions. Fresh blood, yeeaahh ! Oups!

[Bulldog]

He did two?  I have a set from Warner Classics.

Sorry.  Barenboim didn't do two; one set is Bk. 1, the other Bk. 2.

[DarkAngel]

In the current issue of American Record Guide, the recent Pieter Belder Brilliant Classics set was hailed as worthy to stand on the same footing as Dantone and Maasuki. I mean, Suzuki. Considering the price advantage, I think I'll go for it as a replacement to The Olde Verlet nad Moroney versions. Fresh blood, yeeaahh ! Oups!

I always take new reviews with a grain of salt..........."flavor of the month" syndrome is rampant among professional reviewers

Constantly hail the next great new recording then 2-3 yrs from now all is forgotten while the true classics eventually rise to the top, not saying that Belder is not good but I am naturally skeptical.

[Coopmv]

I always take new reviews with a grain of salt..........."flavor of the month" syndrome is rampant among professional reviewers

Constantly hail the next great new recording then 2-3 yrs from now all is forgotten while the true classics eventually rise to the top, not saying that Belder is not good but I am naturally skeptical.

I have held this view for years.  I am only interested in having recordings that have passed the test of times or have the potential of meeting this goal in my collection.  There is rampant me-tooism out there and the syndrome is not limited only to classical music ...

[Lilas Pastia]

I don't have an opinion on Belder's set. ARG's reviewer analyses many performance isssues in detail, so I suppose he's done his homework.

[Bulldog]

I have held this view for years.  I am only interested in having recordings that have passed the test of times or have the potential of meeting this goal in my collection. 

Really?  I'd rather have recordings that satisfy my tastes.  The "test of time" is too generalized, being based on some sort of consensus.

[DavidRoss]

Really?  I'd rather have recordings that satisfy my tastes.  The "test of time" is too generalized, being based on some sort of consensus.

Me, too.  Those "test of time" folks tend to favor recordings made 70 or more years ago.  By the time they finally catch up and recognize the quality of many recordings made today and in recent decades, they'll be long dead!   

[Que]

In the current issue of American Record Guide, the recent Pieter Belder Brilliant Classics set was hailed as worthy to stand on the same footing as Dantone and Maasuki. I mean, Suzuki. Considering the price advantage, I think I'll go for it as a replacement to The Olde Verlet nad Moroney versions. Fresh blood, yeeaahh ! Oups!

I had a look at jpc and listened to the samples of Belder's new recording. It sounds actually pretty good, gentlemen.... Though a comparison with Ottavio Dantone is out of order - totally different approach. (Dantone & Glen Wilson are my top rec. sofar, I'm not into Suzuki's barren, overly meticulous & micro-focused, "Zen"-like Bach). Based on these first impressions Belder's approach sounds to me very much in the mould of Belder's teacher Bob van Asperen and his teacher Gustav Leonhardt. Another chip of the old Dutchman's block, so to speak! Straight, rhythmically rigourous, strongly articlulated, no frills. On first hearing Belder does apply more flexibility than the old master, and more "colour" than Van Asperen, which are good things IMO.

I will eagerly await the undoubtedly more founded impressions of those here who decide to go for it.

Q

[71 dB]

I don't regret buying this one:

[prémont]

I don't regret buying this one:

I did and parted with it.

[Coopmv]

I had a look at jpc and listened to the samples of Belder's new recording. It sounds actually pretty good, gentlemen.... Though a comparison with Ottavio Dantone is out of order - totally different approach. (Dantone & Glen Wilson are my top rec. sofar, I'm not into Suzuki's barren, overly meticulous & micro-focused, "Zen"-like Bach). Based on these first impressions Belder's approach sounds to me very much in the mould of Belder's teacher Bob van Asperen and his teacher Gustav Leonhardt. Another chip of the old Dutchman's block, so to speak! Straight, rhythmically rigourous, strongly articlulated, no frills. On first hearing Belder does apply more flexibility than the old master, and more "colour" than Van Asperen, which are good things IMO.

I will eagerly await the undoubtedly more founded impressions of those here who decide to go for it.

Q

I have the version by van Asperen.  It is one of those that can stand the test of times IMO.  At the very least, you and I are on the same page.  Is the version by Leonhardt OOP?  I may have one book on LP but nothing on CD?

[Que]

I have the version by van Asperen.  It is one of those that can stand the test of times IMO.  At the very least, you and I are on the same page.  Is the version by Leonhardt OOP?  I may have one book on LP but nothing on CD?

Leonhardt's recordings have been issued on CD, OOP but copies are still around. Undoubtedly scheduled for reissue one of these days.



Q

[Scarpia]

I have the version by van Asperen.  It is one of those that can stand the test of times IMO.  At the very least, you and I are on the same page.  Is the version by Leonhardt OOP?  I may have one book on LP but nothing on CD?

I don't buy into this "test of time" bit.  If you lived in 1800 you would be claiming that Bach has not withstood the "test of time."   I know what I like, and although I don't let reviewers dictate my purchasing decisions, if I read a review by a good reviewer I can usually judge whether I will like it, test of time or no test of time.

[Coopmv]

I don't buy into this "test of time" bit.  If you lived in 1800 you would be claiming that Bach has not withstood the "test of time."   I know what I like, and although I don't let reviewers dictate my purchasing decisions, if I read a review by a good reviewer I can usually judge whether I will like it, test of time or no test of time.

My definition of test of time is not quite as long as you think.  I think it is necessary to separate recordings that are worth getting back to in a few years, as compared with those me-too recordings.  Many Bach keyboard works have been released over the past few years, often by pianists who have never before come near Bach.  It seems like having Bach keyboard works recorded these days has become a fashion statement for many artists. 

[DarkAngel]

On the basis of Belder's Scarlatti sonata set which I own about 50% of I am not a motivated buyer of his WTC. He has a clean flexible but somewhat cautious style compared to Scott Ross complete set or CDs by Hantai, Staier etc, leaves some cards on the table if you will. You may think well that is exactly what I want for harpsicord Bach......perhaps but not for me, although I do think as Que indicates he could be more rythmic flexible compared to the old school Leonhardt or Van Asperen styles which is a good thing

Preferences
For harpsicord versions Hantai WTC I, Watchorn WTC I, and Wilson WTC I, II
For piano Feinberg WTC I, II and Gould WTC I, II

[Lilas Pastia]

I don't need a new WTC, but one thing I notice is that recorded sound for harpsichord recordings has evolved substantially over the years. I used to have Ruzickova some 30 years ago, then Moroney, and now Verlet. the latter is quite good on all counts. But I'm not against having an update on both the interpretation and the sonic experience. Belder's set is issued by Brilliant, so it should be very affordable.

OTOH, Belder's complete Scarlatti sonatas is not on a par with some individual discs I have (both in terms of interpretation and sound). I think I'll sample before I decide.

Many Bach keyboard works have been released over the past few years, often by pianists who have never before come near Bach.  It seems like having Bach keyboard works recorded these days has become a fashion statement for many artists.

All important pianists play Bach by bits and pieces in their recitals. An English suite here, a Partita there, etc. But you don't make a carreer out of playing Bach only. They relish the chance to make records when asked. I don't see that as a fashion statement at all. It's a musical statement. Every artist worthy of the name wants to have a go at Bach's major works. Just like every soprano wants to try her hand at Violetta or Isolde.

[SonicMan46]

Well, I now have both books of the WTC w/ Peter Watchorn on the pedal harpsichord; so still in the market for a version on standard harpsichord.  I was just re-reading the review on Peter-Jan Belder's Brilliant release of these works (the price is certainly right!) in the American Record Guide (Jan-Feb 2010).

The reviewer is Rob Haskins - he also did a back-to-back writeup of Suzuki's WTC II; his top 3 choices are Suzuki, Dantone, & Belder in that order (w/ no mention of Glen Wilson); so the competition does deepen - 

I shall await the thoughts of some of our esteemed Bachians on their first-hand listening to the Belder set - 

[George]

I am getting VERY curious about that Suzuki set.