Advantages: Wonderful transcriptions of JS Bach's majestic music; sensitive, tender, vivacious, effortless and fluid playing. Disadvantages: Nil.
...was nothing like the valved species familiar to us today. The antique version must have been hell to play, since it depended solely on lip control to create any melodic variation, especially in the upper register. All of which is totally irrelevant to Alison Balsom, who uses the modern valved trumpet (piccolo and C types) to play these works of Baroque magnificence. (Do I hear lamentation from the period instrument purists? Oh, pshaw.)
The pieces on this album were arranged and transcribed, or co-arranged and co-transcribed by Ms Balsom herself from works for the keyboard, cello, oboe, flute, voice, etc. Transcription seems to come easily to her: so natural do the works of Bach sound on the trumpet, you’d think they were written especially for it. The trumpet repertoire is rather thin on the classical side of things, and surely, Bach...
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Advantages: Beautiful relaxing music. Rich instrumentation. Played with passion. Disadvantages: Not all instruments are from the period.
...If I was ever asked to select my "desert island discs", top of my list would be Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. (I wonder if there's a category in the ciao café?. . . ) The six Brandenburg concertos, each with their distinct quality and sound requiring a different combination of instruments, are not only a delight to listen to but exemplify the intellectual musical genius of their composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. All six are composed in major keys creating and maintaining a cheerful, vivacious collection. The modulations of key demanded by the baroque conventions are skilfully completed and Bach's predilection for numbers and ornate touches are evident. I could say more but this isn't a musical analysis . . .
I am not alone in my high estimation, The Brandenburg concertos are now probably the best loved and most frequently performed works...
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Advantages: Thrilling, daredevil chamber music performances from the legendary Martha Argerich and partner-in-crime Gidon Kremer. Disadvantages: Violinist Kremer occasionally on the mannered, spastic side; only forty-three minutes of music.
...be true music lovers!) Far more vital is the enjoyment I get from the performances themselves than the mere quantity of music on hand.
Returning to the Question Posed in the Title: Who Wins?
It really depends on one’s likes and temperament. If you feel that Beethoven should reflect a certain measure of formality and elegance, something akin to a dignified and decorous salon piece, then the Mutter-Orkis recording may please you more. (For what it’s worth, the complete recordings of Mutter-Orkis of the Beethoven sonata cycle won a Classical Music Grammy ® for Best Chamber Music Performance in 2000.)
On the other hand, if you like your Beethoven sonatas vibrant and electrifying, performed instinctively, with a touch of brusqueness, then the more daredevil performances of the Argerich-Kremer duo may appeal to you.
As if you didn’t know yet, my...
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13.04.2006
05.03.2004
