Morimur - J.S. Bach
In 1994, explains the booklet which accompanies Morimur, Professor Helga Thoene made the
... more
surprising discovery that the monumental Ciaccona from Bach's Partita in D minor for solo violin was built around various chorale themes hidden in the music. From the texts of these "secret" chorales and other symbolic musical devices, she deduced that the Ciaccona was an epitaph for Bach's wife, Maria Barbara. The revelation might have remained an intriguing (and touching) footnote to Bach scholarship if baroque violinist Christoph Poppen hadn't had the bright idea of taking Professor Thoene's discovery off the library shelves and placing it triumphantly in the concert hall. On this disc his performance of all five movements of the whole Partita (BWV 1004) is interspersed with the various chorales hidden inside the Ciaccona, sung with breathtaking precision by the Hilliard Ensemble. The double whammy comes at the end when the Ciaccona is performed again, this time with the singers bringing out the "secret" melodies. Poppen's playing is excellent, both sweet-toned and vibrant while the Hilliards have never sounded better: the combination of the two is spine-tingling. It is as if Maria Barbara's proper epitaph has finally been realised, and a moving and wonderfully stimulating recording created in the process. --Warwick Thompson
Reviews which might be of interest for Bach, J.S.; Bach, C.P.E.; Bach, W.F.: (The) Bach Dynasty
3 Similar Reviews of Bach: Concertos for 2 Harpsichords
Bach in the USA Review ofBach: Concertos for 2 Harpsichordsby
Rogerbyname
Advantages: Light, clear, could be played over and again Disadvantages: Perhaps lacks a bit of magic or sparkle
...of the mundane into the enjoyable.
For those of you who like details, well here goes:
This is 1 CD containing 3 Concertos for Two Harpsichords and Strings, BWV1060-62 by J. S. Bach (1685 - 1750)
Date Recorded: 1999
Conductor: Helmuth Rilling
Orchestra / Ensemble: Oregon Bach Festival Chamber Orchestra
Main Performers: Jeffrey Kahane & Robert Levin...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
somewhat helpful 22.06.2007
Just Sit Bach for J S Bach Review ofBach: Concerto for Two Violins in D minor / Violin Concertos in A minor & E minorby
MAFARRIMOND
Advantages: Romantic orchestral music Disadvantages: Only 1 hour - eat quickly for a romantic dinner
...Johann Sebastian Bach, giant among Baroque composers, was a prolific writer whose versatility and creativity resulted in a wealth of musical works with a diversity ranging from sacred choral works, keyboard music to orchestra music.
The CD, Concerto for Two Violins in D minor / Violin Concertos in A minor & E minor, is an orchestral recording conducted by Salvatore Accardo, in which two violins (Anne-Sophie Mutter and Salvatore Accardo) / solo violin (Anne-Sophie Mutter) are contrasted with a larger orchestra (English Chamber Orchestra) of strings and bass continuo instrument the harpsichord.
Bach is often criticized for his strict attention to form. Whilst, I greatly admire Bach for his intellectual and methodical approach to composition, what I enjoy most is the harmonious and melodic music that results.
This CD is a superb example...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Great piano playing of a great Bach composition. Disadvantages: None
...One of Gould's final recordings, this is probably the definitive piano version of Bach's keyboard masterpiece. Gould runs the theme & thirty variations as a unified whole. His playing is characterised by clear fast passages, crisp ornaments and controlled, intense playing of the slow variations (nos.15 & 26). Even his humming along to the music does not detract from a joyous performance. The final section from variation 27 to the slow return to the theme is pianism at its most uplifting.
The piano sound is clear without being dry & compares favourably with most up to date piano recordings. This is a disc to convert anyone to Bach & indeed to Gould's pianistic genius....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
helpful 25.09.2000
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