Bach on the piano

[prémont]

convincing romanticized Bach

Contradictio in adjecto??

[Wakefield]

Contradictio in adjecto??

... or maybe it's simply a wise adaptation to the "spirit" of the piano? I mean: Can Bach really sound Baroque when is played on electric guitar? Do the instruments have some the "spirit" of their time? I think all of these questions allow different degrees of "yes" as answer. 

[San Antone]

I've seen more than one article about Andras Schiff's recent performances of Bach in NYC and elsewhere.  In every one of these interviews/articles mention is made of his choice not to use the sustaining pedal.  This, I think, is a wise decision since it acknowledges that these works were written for instruments that did not have such technology and the performer was expected to connect the notes with his fingers.  Organists do this, as do harpsichordists, and I agree with Schiff that to play Bach on the piano it makes also sense not to rely on the sustain pedal in order to produce legato phrasing.  Using the pedal also tends to blur the lines and creates what I consider an unidiomatic effect.

He also comments that most of his colleagues disagree with this choice. 

His newer EMC recordings benefit from this kind of playing and I believe these recordings to be superior to his earlier Decca traversal.

[aukhawk]

He also comments that most of his colleagues disagree with this choice. 

He would say that though, wouldn't he?

[milk]

Though my love of Bach, and classical music in general, started with Glenn Gould, I haven't been much interested in Bach on the piano these last few years. However, I find this new recording to be very interesting. I think it's especially so since they are able to do something new (to me) with the chorales. 

[Opus106]

Though my love of Bach, and classical music in general, started with Glenn Gould, I haven't been much interested in Bach on the piano these last few years. However, I find this new recording to be very interesting. I think it's especially so since they are able to do something new (to me) with the chorales. 

I noticed three or four (quite a large number, relatively speaking) CDs of CP transcriptions (mainly piano) in the list of "Future Releases" at Presto. And today, Jens made a favourable comment in the listening thread about another new Bach-Kurtág disc. Good times!

You may also be interested in this series from Hyperion. And in the recommendations I was offered in this thread, here.

[Beorn]

This is a genius thread. I wonder who thought of it.

Anyway, cool recommendation, milk.

[milk]

I noticed three or four (quite a large number, relatively speaking) CDs of CP transcriptions (mainly piano) in the list of "Future Releases" at Presto. And today, Jens made a favourable comment in the listening thread about another new Bach-Kurtág disc. Good times!

You may also be interested in this series from Hyperion. And in the recommendations I was offered in this thread, here.

Lots of stuff there! Thanks!

[jlaurson]

this fits the bill:




Bach / Kurtag
"Crossings"
Piano Transcriptions
Naxos
German link - UK link

The performances are a few percentage points short of perfection... but the music is absolute perfection. Bach-Kurtag (his four-hand piano arrangements of Bach works) is like getting G*d injected in the ears. Very much recommended.

[milk]

this fits the bill:




Bach / Kurtag
"Crossings"
Piano Transcriptions
Naxos
German link - UK link

The performances are a few percentage points short of perfection... but the music is absolute perfection. Bach-Kurtag (his four-hand piano arrangements of Bach works) is like getting G*d injected in the ears. Very much recommended.

With that recommendation, who can resist?!

[Mandryka]

Though my love of Bach, and classical music in general, started with Glenn Gould, I haven't been much interested in Bach on the piano these last few years. However, I find this new recording to be very interesting. I think it's especially so since they are able to do something new (to me) with the chorales.

I enjoyed listening to this recording and I'll definitely be exploring othef things by Inge Spinette and Jan Michiels. I liked the Bach and the Bartok transcriptions in fact, and I thought the whole programme was imaginative and stimulating. Their style too, which doesn't try to render the music anodyne, is just my cup of tea. Thanks for mentioning it.

[milk]

I enjoyed listening to this recording and I'll definitely be exploring othef things by Inge Spinette and Jan Michiels. I liked the Bach and the Bartok transcriptions in fact, and I thought the whole programme was imaginative and stimulating. Their style too, which doesn't try to render the music anodyne, is just my cup of tea. Thanks for mentioning it.
[/quote]
I also love Michiels's recording of Debussy's Études on a period Erard. This duo recorded a program of Debussy's works on period pianos as well. I also should say a thanks to jlaurson as I am enjoying "crossings." 

[milk]

I guess I must be branching out a bit because I'm also delighted by this recording by Edna Stern. It has only a few transcriptions on it. James Manheim, on allmusic, describes it as "Romantic adoration of the Baroque."

[Leo K.]

I'm really impressed with Andrei Gavrilov's French Suites, there is such excited drive in the execution of the minuets and gigues, and the sarabandes are heavy with reflection, amazing!

[milk]

.[asin]B00ARWDSAA[/asin]
Of late, I find myself unable to resist these transcription albums.

[Parsifal]

Unable to resist the low prices, I've been exploring Glen Gould's Bach recordings.  I started with the Partitas.  There is something to be said for his sheer dexterity and the transparency of his stacatto performance style.  The clarity brings out inner voices and melodies that are often overlooked.  But on the whole my impression is negative.  The lack of variation in his strict articulation quickly becomes tiresome, and I find myself with the impression that I am listening to a recording of a piano-roll.   Just before switching to Gould I was listening to Tureck's old 1953 Well Tempered Clavier.  At her best, Tureck manages a comparable transparency but with a more flexible and varied articulation which allows the music to "come alive" in a way it doesn't under Gould's fingers.

Anyway, just my impression.

[Sean]

Parsifal

The lack of variation in his strict articulation quickly becomes tiresome, and I find myself with the impression that I am listening to a recording of a piano-roll.

Gould was seeking inwardness- compare his Goldbergs 1954 pianism with the masterly 1982.

[George]

What do folks think of Harold Samuel's Bach?

[Mandryka]

]

Just lately I've become interested in Feinberg again. What I like is the way he uses fluctuations in dynamics, especially in WTC (2) The fluctuations in loudness often take place across short phrases, a way of creating cells,  a dynamic level of articulation. What I like is that they're so organic, they make the music live, they're like someone breathing in and out. It seems a really distinctive thing, I don't think I hear the same dynamic ideas in Neuhaus or Gilels or Richter, for example.

[Mandryka]

What do folks think of Harold Samuel's Bach?

Not very interesting