Bach: Organ Preludes and Choral Works

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: Top performance of range of virtuoso piano works
Disadvantages: A little too much virtuosity to listen to all in one sitting

...Alkan, Busoni, Feinberg, Godowsky, Medtner, Rachmaninov, Scriabin, and Sorabji have come to be known as the "Eight Composer Pianists" along with the performer, Marc-Andre Hamelin, who is the ninth. Each of them wrote music requiring the most amazing level of virtuosity to perform it. The obvious danger here is that of virtuosity for its own sake, and some of Hamelin's performances of his own compositions suffer from this, especially Etude No 10, based on the famous Chopin "Black Keys" Etude. Hamelin's Prelude and Fugue is also more suited to display than enjoyable listening. On the other hand, the Bach Schubler Chorale arranged by Feinberg captures the dignity of Bach's music in a thoroughly pianistic manner, without any sense of display. The Alkan transcription of Haydn's Andante from Symphony No 94 (the "Surprise... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: If you like Bach, the piano or jazz you'll like it
Disadvantages: Just the one tune that I don't care for

...Many Jazz musicians train their fingers by playing Bach in various styles and at various speeds - I played Bach not only for the training but because I liked the harmonies, chord changes and arpeggios. Jacques Loussier has taken playing Bach to an art form. I like this album only and NOT volume 2. The original Play Bach album contains most of bach's better known works such as His Toccata and Fugue, also the 1st and 2nd preludes and the 1st and 2nd fugues, hair on a G string (joke) and Jesu joy of man's desiring. This really is a cracking album with the trio (including bass and drums) really jazzing up bach and playing some pieces with phenominal speed, cool showmanship and originality. It's a swinging, foot tapping, jazz party! In my opinion there is only one song on this album that isn't brilliant and that is Jesu joy of man... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average off topic