Bach on Piano?

[bwv 1080]

Opinions of Bach and Scarlatti on modern grand piano?

[kishnevi]

I voted okay but in truth I think the most important thing is the musician and not the instruments on which he is performing.

[bwv 1080]

I am not against it, but the music does not work as well as on period instruments, unless it's given an idiosyncratic performance like Gould's.  Too often it just sounds sterile.

[Gurn Blanston]

Definitely not! I don't know about sacrilege, but it doesn't work for me. I don't much care for Bach, although I have a lot of his music, but I am a big Scarlatti fan. It would be interesting to hear some on a clavichord or tangent piano though.

80

[mn dave]

Everything on piano. 

[bwv 1080]

Definitely not! I don't know about sacrilege, but it doesn't work for me. I don't much care for Bach, although I have a lot of his music, but I am a big Scarlatti fan. It would be interesting to hear some on a clavichord or tangent piano though.

80

How about an upright lautenwerck?
https://www.youtube.com/v/IlTaxziDwXA

[mc ukrneal]

Piano all the way. Period instruments are often quite physically beautiful, but the music usually sounds better on a piano.

[Jay F]

I get headaches a lot, so period instruments are doable maybe 10% of the time. I can nearly always listen to piano, though. With a few exceptions, I stopped buying Bach on keyboard when I got Andras Schiff's CDs.

[Sammy]

I prefer the harpsichord, but piano is acceptable for Bach (less so for Scarlatti).

[North Star]

I prefer the harpsichord, but piano is acceptable for Bach (less so for Scarlatti).

+1

[Moonfish]

It definitely depends on the music, the performer and the instrument. Rameau, for example, comes across beautifully as played by Marcelle Meyer (and even Hewitt). I think that is true for Couperin as well.  Regardless, it is just a different experience to hear Meyer play Rameau compared to his music being performed on a harpsichord.  It seems like there is more variation in the harpsichord realm depending on the instrument and the performer.  Why can't we enjoy both worlds?

[San Antone]

not either/or : and

[North Star]

not either/or : and

Oh please, no! I'd rather hear the music played either on the piano or on the harpsichord, not as a hpd & pf duo!  0:)

[Marc]

Sacrilege?

Now come on.

[San Antone]

accordion .... marimba ... saxophone quartet ... wendy carlos?

[North Star]

Recorder quartet, gambas, they're all good in the DKF.
Just leave the Goldbergs for the harpsichordists..

[Gurn Blanston]

How about an upright lautenwerck?
https://www.youtube.com/v/IlTaxziDwXA

That's a new one for me, I like it! 

[Marc]

accordion .... marimba ... saxophone quartet ... wendy carlos?

Whomever on whatever.
Just listen, and then pick your favourite(s).

I have a rather conservative taste, so I prefer period instruments. IMO, most of the baroque keyboard works sound more natural on them, and I love the sound of those oldies.

But I don't think that Bach or Scarlatti are holy, and that their compositions and scores are sacred, and that there is just One Holy Way of playing them, on just One Holy Instrument.

[Marc]

That's a new one for me, I like it! 

Yes, me too.

[Karl Henning]

But I don't think that Bach or Scarlatti are holy, and that their compositions and scores are sacred, and that there is just One Holy Way of playing them, on just One Holy Instrument.

To say nothing of that One Holy Instrument not being in existence when the music was composed . . . .