Bach: Motets [DVD Audio]

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.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Excellent composer
Disadvantages: non

...I sallute to Bach. Bach can be very romantic, calm or even agitated (sometimes agressive) in his compositions. I like most of his composition especially his piano work. In his fourty eight Preludes and Fugues, if you played them all, you can experience a mixture of emotions that he has implanted in this particular set of work. I like to play Bach's Preludes and Fugues when I feel very down, very angry even when I am very happy. I will definitely find a piece that suit my emotion and mood, and feel much more better after playing them. Some of my... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Wonderful transcriptions of JS Bach's majestic music; sensitive, tender, vivacious, effortless and fluid playing.
Disadvantages: Nil.

...of the relevant web pages that have links for audio samples (need RealPlayer or Windows Media Player to run): http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000CNEO1G/qid=1144961414/sr=8-1/ref=sr8xsapi1xgl/202-6907497-5376657 http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?z=y&PWB=1&EAN=724355804723 http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/7008731/a/Bach:+Works+for+Trumpet+%2F+Alison+Balsom,+et+al.htm Well, you can't say you weren't warned: keep your eye (and ear) on Alison Balsom, trumpeter extraordinaire. She has yet to make a splash on this side of the pond, but audiences in the UK and the rest of Europe, South America, the Middle East and Japan have been more fortunately acquainted with Ms Balsom for some years now. I can only hope to catch a live performance in this country - that is, if she ever plans to return to the USA. Ms... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful