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reccomendations, please, for Bach... no, sorry, not babewatch... Bach on piano...

58.111.179.176
Posted on October 25, 2009 at 14:54:03
dave c
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 I guess babes on Bach are fine, but what I really want are some choices for Bach played on the piano of which at present I have absolutely zero.
Thanks in advance.
;-)
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the only Bach keyboard works - played on piano - that I have, were gifts., posted on November 3, 2009 at 22:40:22
Timbo in Oz
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 ;-)!

Hewitt is good.


Warmest

Timothy Bailey
The Skyptical Mensurer and Audio Scrounger

And gladly would he learn and gladly teach - Chaucer. ;-)!

'Still not saluting.'

http://www.theanalogdept.com/tim_bailey.htm
RE: reccomendations, please, for Bach... no, sorry, not babewatch... Bach on piano..., posted on October 29, 2009 at 09:57:31
Brian Cheney
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 Lipatti and Gould will take care of all your Bach-on-the-piano needs.

Gould's appeal is to the intellect. No one delineates structure and defines rhythms like GG. He recorded almost all of the keyboard works and you can start anywhere. Gould almost always brings a smile to my face.

Lipatti's appeal is to the heart. No one connects to this music with more emotion and insight, or makes you feel its human and humane qualities like this most spiritual of musicians. Lipatti engages, and then makes you melt. Unfortunately, he recorded little Bach, but what there is you should seek out.

Once you've learned Bach on the piano, proceed directly to the harpsichord. Start with Landowska!

RE: Landowska -- also George Malcolm, though again limited recordings. nt, posted on November 3, 2009 at 14:43:35
goldenthal
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 n

Thank you everyone for your suggestions, posted on October 28, 2009 at 14:39:55
dave c
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 I shall be taking notes, researching and then perhaps buying on the basis of what I can find in a shop!
Whichever way it goes, some shopping will now be done.
Thanks again.
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Dave - I think you've gotten at least one recommendation. . ., posted on October 28, 2009 at 21:45:13
Chris from Lafayette
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 . . . for every pianist who has ever recorded any Bach! :-)

RE: Dave - I think you've gotten at least one recommendation. . ., posted on October 29, 2009 at 10:05:40
Kas
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I didn't see any recommendations for Roslyn Tureck...thankfully.

Bill

Now that you mention it. . ., posted on October 29, 2009 at 10:25:24
Chris from Lafayette
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 . . . I don't think I saw any recommendations for Edwin Fischer either. (I'm tempted to say "thankfully" too, but that might start a flame war!) :-)

p.s.: Actually, I don't mind the "High Priestess of Bach" too much, except that she's often very S-L-O-W - but aside from the tempo, her playing is not bad IMHO.

No Carlos Joao Martins, either... (NT), posted on October 29, 2009 at 17:31:09
Kas
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 nt

I'm tempted to say "thankfully" to that too! :-) [nt], posted on October 29, 2009 at 23:39:31
Chris from Lafayette
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Ahhh the epitome of AA recs!, posted on October 28, 2009 at 22:51:53
dave c
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 Absolutely everything has found a home somewhere!
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RE: reccomendations,well....there's always pictures....., posted on October 27, 2009 at 17:56:35
Tom B.
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I'm a real fan of Willie Kempff, but I have to admit, Glenn's two recordings of the Goldbergs are written on my DNA.



Glenn again with pictorial....

Tom B.

I'm a big fan of Andras Schiff's Goldberg Variations, posted on October 27, 2009 at 09:29:02
sjb
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 and also his disc of Partitas.





"The man is only half himself, the other half is his expression." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Arthur Loesser nt., posted on October 27, 2009 at 08:15:43
castironandtubes
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RE: Arthur Loesser nt. -- Known jocularly in certain circles as . . ., posted on November 3, 2009 at 14:34:54
goldenthal
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 the Loesser of two Loeasts.

The much-praised teacher of my cousin.

Jeremy

RE: Arthur Loesser nt. -- Known jocularly -- wait; have I reversed it? nt, posted on November 3, 2009 at 15:07:54
goldenthal
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 n

RE: reccomendations, please, for Bach... no, sorry, not babewatch... Bach on piano..., posted on October 26, 2009 at 23:06:43
learsfool
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 Another artist justifiably famous for her Bach that has not been mentioned yet in this thread is the lately departed Alicia deLarrocha. I also second the Brendel recommendation someone made earlier. Haven't listened to Gould in a long time, used to find him very heavy-handed with it - smash-mouth playing, to use the athletic analogy. Perhaps I should give it another listen.

RE: reccomendations, please, for Bach... no, sorry, not babewatch... Bach on piano..., posted on October 26, 2009 at 10:24:17
Mali
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 This disc of some of his less well-known keyboard works is outstanding.

Any love for Simone Dinnerstein? nt, posted on October 26, 2009 at 10:18:50
jec01
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 nt

Nice tone - too often slow and safe however IMHO [nt], posted on October 26, 2009 at 10:47:50
Chris from Lafayette
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Aimard put out his first Bach recording last year..., posted on October 26, 2009 at 09:10:35
tunenut
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 an unexpected release for a musician who had before tended toward very modern music.

It is extraordinary and deep. Highly recommended.

Wilhelm Kempff, posted on October 26, 2009 at 08:45:54
rbolaw
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 I'm surprised no one has mentioned him in this thread. No doubt he was a major influence for some pianists who have been mentioned.

RE: Wilhelm Kempff, posted on October 30, 2009 at 15:56:51
jazzedup
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 Kempff is known for his singing tone- elucidating left hand patterns, melodies and dynamics in a class above the rest. Never a banger-always a joy to hear, whether Bach or more recent. Many of his students are in their 60s today- all speak of his playing and teaching with great respect.

RE: Wilhelm Kempff, posted on October 26, 2009 at 09:50:07
Charlie F.
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 Thank you for mentioning him.

I've heard only a few recordings of the Goldberg Variations (THE Gould, Karl Richter, Kempff). For me, Kempff's is the performance I reach for. I have to really want to hear Gould before I will play him; the same for Richter. Kempff's understated, subtle, and flowing approach sings to me whenever I hear it.

-=- Charlie F.

Anne Marie McDermott, posted on October 26, 2009 at 02:51:45
Paul_A
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A real toe tapper. Giver her a listen at CD Baby

RE: Anne Marie McDermott, posted on October 26, 2009 at 05:55:03
Amphissa
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Just saw her at Alice Tully in NY playing some of the Brahms Hungarian Dances, and have heard her play Mozart before. Have always liked her playing, but have never heard her play Bach.

"Life without music is a mistake" (Nietzsche)
Murray Perahia, posted on October 25, 2009 at 20:57:14
boboli
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 I have 7 discs of Bach music performed by him, and they are the ones I listen to most frequently.

RE: Murray Perahia, posted on October 25, 2009 at 22:01:43
jimbill
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 I find him a bit too delicate with Bach. Although I do enjoy his English Suites.

I guess I feel like Gould never forgot that these were written for the harpsicord.

RE: Murray Perahia, posted on October 26, 2009 at 00:24:03
boboli
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 I also find him delicate with Bach, and for the most part, I enjoy it. I will break out some of the others when I want it more stirring.

Gould & Perahia, posted on October 25, 2009 at 22:37:12
jazz1
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 Very different but both are superb, recordings are nice too.
I would also suggest "The well tempered clavier" (4cd's) by Gould

Second recommendations of Koroliov, posted on October 25, 2009 at 20:05:28
k-k-k-kenny
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 Very fine WTC, Goldberg and Inventions. Haven't heard his Art of Fugue.
Also a plug for Tatiana Nikolayeva - Art of Fugue etc on Hyperion and a Regis records release with Italian Concerto and other bits and pieces. Perhaps her pianism might be seen as a little sternly soviet, but it's highly disciplined and respectful.

Forgot Koroliov's WTC - Thanks for mentioning! [nt], posted on October 25, 2009 at 20:34:47
Chris from Lafayette
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Lots of choices, posted on October 25, 2009 at 19:59:51
Kas
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The options are almost limitless, and the styles are so different that you will need to sample things to determine who you like. My own favorite Bach pianists are Koroliov, Tipo, Weissenberg, Nikolayeva, Gavrilov, Schepkin, and Gould.

For whatever reason, Russian pianists seem to have a "way" with Bach that suits my taste. Ekaterina Dershavina's recording of the Goldberg Variations might be a good place to start.

Another good "starter", because it's so cheap, is this set by Maria Tipo, that includes the Goldbergs, the Partitas, and a few of Bach's best keyboard works:
Pogo, posted on October 25, 2009 at 17:47:18
Chris from Lafayette
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One of his greatest recordings, IMHO - the fire, the clarity, the electricity - this disc (along with the Schumann Symphonic Etudes) is really what made me a believer in his artistry.

I'd also recommend the Anderszewski recording of the English Suite No. 6 in D minor. It seems to me to be more rhythmically disciplined than his recording of the French Overture, recommended by ArdRi below (although that disc is not bad either). (I haven't heard Anderszewski's disc of Partitas 1, 3, and 6 - it might be good too.)

Of course, Glenn Gould is mostly excellent across a wide variety of Bach repertoire, although I'm a little impatient with the deification which has happened since his death. :-) However, you MUST hear Ekaterina Dershavina's recording of the Goldberg Variations too - Gould is not the only game in town. (And besides, I had to sneak a babe pianist in here somehwere!)

Bach Transcriptions: the Demidenko disc on Hyperion is great.

Koroliov is wonderful in the Art of Fugue, even better than Sokolov - but Sokolov's recording also contains an indispensible C-minor Partita (No. 2). MA has a very fine all-Bach disc, possibly a little too clipped in the phrasing, but pulsing with energy (as always with MA!)

If you can get the Japanese JVC K2 processed incarnation of the Richter's Well Tempered Clavier, that is by far the best resurrection of some seriously flawed engineering these great performances have received. Another possibility for the WTC is Evelyne Crochet on Music and Arts - a little known, but great recording.

I'm afraid I don't have much use for Angela Hewitt.
RE: A. Hewitt, posted on November 3, 2009 at 14:48:12
goldenthal
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 And besides that, she was gratuitously nasty to my mother.

Jeremy

Oooh - I smell some gossip, posted on November 3, 2009 at 15:10:49
Chris from Lafayette
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 Would you care to elaborate? :-)

She obviously has a very high opinion of herself (AH - not your mother!). :-)

RE: Oooh - I smell some gossip -- Nothin but the facks -- nt, posted on November 3, 2009 at 15:46:07
goldenthal
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 n

RE: Pogo, posted on October 26, 2009 at 12:04:56
Mali
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 His Symphonic Etudes was on of my favorite Lps. Never could find an adequate substitute on CD, since for some reason never could find his version on CD. Gave up on it years ago, long before the advent of the internet. Thanks for the reminder. Just ordered one.

Lugansky is also great in the SE's - CD used to be available at Berkshire [nt], posted on October 26, 2009 at 12:18:00
Chris from Lafayette
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RE: Lugansky is also great in the SE's - CD used to be available at Berkshire [nt], posted on October 26, 2009 at 16:02:03
Mali
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 I can't find it anywhere, but thanks just the same.

RE: Hell, Chris, Gould was a God before he died and I agree, posted on October 26, 2009 at 07:48:11
Travis
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 pretty much about Hewitt. I got the concerti because I liked the way the Australian Chamber Orchestra played in a period style with modern instruments.


"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
But he ascended from the minor deities to the major deities after death! :-) [nt], posted on October 26, 2009 at 10:52:57
Chris from Lafayette
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Richter JVC?, posted on October 25, 2009 at 21:56:53
jimbill
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 Where do you get it? I have the RCA, great performer, lousy CD.

Is the JVC a whole lot better?

BTW, I ordered the Pogo. I've always liked his Scarlatti.

RE: Richter JVC?, posted on October 25, 2009 at 23:09:40
Chris from Lafayette
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 This is the one (link below). 20-bit K2 supercoding (like on an XRCD). Melodiya via (Japanese) Victor Entertainment. The whole booklet is in Japanese, except for the titles. The original recordings were so ineptly done (especially Book I, with its airplane hanger echo), that any process which can wring out a bit more fidelity is welcome. Whether it's worth it is an individual decision. Speaking personally, I was happy I got it.

Re the Pogo Scarlatti - I think those Scarlatti Sonatas with the Bach English Suites are simply taken from his all-Scarlatti Sonata disc.

RE: Richter JVC? Once Upon a Time..................., posted on October 27, 2009 at 17:41:15
Tom B.
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 This JVC BOX SET was illegal. Richter's estate didn't like it being cut out. So you could only purchase it in Japan while the stock sold out.....bummer. This was right after the Maestro's passing in 1997.

It was actually part of a 10 CD JVC Legacy Series. Someone on the Richter list was very very kind and made CDRs of all ten with color photo copies of the artwork as well.

Hands down....that's the kindest thing a stranger has ever done for this music lover.

Tom B.

Forgot about the Youri Egorov Legacy, posted on October 25, 2009 at 21:25:01
Chris from Lafayette
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Part of which is the Sixth Partita - played with depth, fluency, and intelligence. Tremendous!

RE: reccomendations, please, for Bach... no, sorry, not babewatch... Bach on piano..., posted on October 25, 2009 at 17:33:56
musetap
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 Richter's Well Tempered Clavier started the ball rolling for me just a few short years ago...

Photobucket
Photobucket

Richter has a few versions of the WTC on CD, most of them recorded live. I like (and have) them all.
The equivalent of these photos (at least Book 1) is available on CD on RCA and would be
the best place to start, Richter-wise.
The Glenn Gould versions are recommended as well.
Bach on piano, a great journey...

Also, this Edna Stern recording has some of the WTC present, is wonderful and has the best recorded piano I've yet heard (a nice bonus...). Plus, she may be a bit of a babe!





“ Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination. ” -Michael McClure
RE: reccomendations, please, for Bach... no, sorry, not babewatch... Bach on piano..., posted on October 25, 2009 at 16:45:58
jec01
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 Gould is indispensable. Start with the 1955 mono recording of the Goldberg Variations, then try his Well Tempered Clavier.

I have greatly enjoyed WTCs from Andras Schiff and Angela Hewitt as well. Schiff especially plays with a measured elegance that really serves this music well.

Happy listening,

Jim

RE: Glenn Gould. nt, posted on October 25, 2009 at 16:05:18
Travis
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 .

"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
It's easy to stop there..., posted on October 25, 2009 at 17:38:36
jimbill
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 But I'm starting to branch out.

I started with Gould and have most of everything he did of Bach.

I still favor him but I'm also starting to reach for Hewitt and Richter and Brendel. I just wish Moravec had done more of his works.

It's funny how when I was growing up some of the critics said his work is mathematical, probably implying it is unemotional. Yet all these great artists have put their fingerprint on these great pieces.

Clara Haskil. Most beautiful playing and player!, posted on October 25, 2009 at 18:37:36
tinear
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 Bach wasn't a metronome, for goodness' sake, but many play him as if it were mathematics with a bit of music.
Clara brings out the passion in the guy. After all, how many kids did he father? He wasn't exactly a cold-fish :-).

RE: Thank you., posted on October 26, 2009 at 07:38:08
Travis
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 Makes me want to spend the rest of this rainy day listening to Bach.

I might.


"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
Good stuff..., posted on October 25, 2009 at 22:21:39
jimbill
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 Thanks for that.

I have a CD of Piotr Anderszewski playing, posted on October 25, 2009 at 15:00:47
ArdRi
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 French Suite No.5 and Overture in the French Manner, partita for keyboard in B minor (Clavier-Übung II/2), BWV 831 as well as the English suites which are on a disc with Beethoven and Webern.. as far as great qulaity recorded sound goes this is a spledid disc whatever one's ideas about playing..

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