instruments, which means that today we must take our pick. Two recordings of these chamber works have come out simultaneously, with one presenting the cembalo part on a tangent piano, and the other, more conventionally, on the harpsichord. And though Miklos Spanyi's tangent piano is interesting, it doesn't have the beauty and sweetness of Ton Koopman's harpsichord. Koopman and Jordi Savall are two of Baroque music's celebrities, and to get them together is a coup. Moreover, Savall's viola da gamba speaks with a velvety richness that does wonders for these gracefully spare works. Playing on three instruments in turn--the oldest going back to 1550--he shows how different it is from the cello, with which it is often wrongly compared; it's possible that Bach originally wrote these sonatas for flute, but with this combination they work gorgeously. Highly recommended. --Michael Church
instruments, which means that today we must take our pick. Two recordings of these chamber works have come out simultaneously, with one presenting the cembalo part on a tangent piano, and the other, more conventionally, on the harpsichord. And though Miklos Spanyi's tangent piano is interesting, it doesn't have the beauty and sweetness of Ton Koopman's harpsichord. Koopman and Jordi Savall are two of Baroque music's celebrities, and to get them together is a coup. Moreover, Savall's viola da gamba speaks with a velvety richness that does wonders for these gracefully spare works. Playing on three instruments in turn--the oldest going back to 1550--he shows how different it is from the cello, with which it is often wrongly compared; it's possible that Bach originally wrote these sonatas for flute, but with this combination they work gorgeously. Highly recommended. --Michael Church
Bach: Sonatas for Viola da Gamba & Harpsichord/Preludes & Fugues
Main specs
Title: Bach: Sonatas for Viola da Gamba & Harpsichord/Preludes & Fugues
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Main Performer: Alison Crum (Viola da gamba); Laurence Cummings (Harpsichord)
Date of Release: 05/2000
Label / Distributor: Signum / Harmonia Mundi
Pieces in Set: 1
Running Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Genre(s): Chamber, Instrumental
Producer: Roy Marks & John Taylor
SPAR Code: DDD
Work 1
Work Title: (3) Sonatas for Viola da gamba and Harpsichord, BWV1027-29
Excerpt(s): 1. No. 1 in G, BWV1027<br>2. Adagio; Allegro ma non tanto; Andante; Allegro moderato<br>3. No. 2 in D, BWV1028<br>4. No. 3 in G minor, BWV1029<br>5. ii - Adagio; Allegro
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Genre: Chamber
Date Written: c1720
Date Recorded: 1999
Main Performer: Alison Crum (Viola da gamba), Laurence Cummings (Harpsichord)
Opera Part(s): Alison Crum, Laurence Cummings
Location of Work Recording: St Andrew's Church, Toddington, Gloucestershire
Work 2
Work Title: (Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV846-893
Advantages: Wonderful transcriptions of JS Bach's majestic music; sensitive, tender, vivacious, effortless and fluid playing. Disadvantages: Nil.
...1008)
5 Gigue (from Cello Suite No.2 BWV 1008)
6 Aria Variata in A Minor (Italian Variations) BWV 989
7 Gigue from Violin Partita no 3. BWV1006
Trio Sonata in C Major BWV 529
8 Allegro
9 Largo
10 Allegro
Concerto in C minor (after Marcello) BWV 974:
11 Allegro
12 Largo
13 Presto
14 Bist du bei mir (from Anna Magdalena Notebook BWV 508)
Concerto in A major (transposed to C Major) BWV 1055:
15 Allegro
16 Larghetto
17 Allegro ma non tanto
18 Badinerie from Orchestral Suite no.2 BWV 1067
19 Agnus Dei from Mass in B minor BWV 232
Performers:
Alison Balsom (trumpets), Colm Carey (organ), Alina Ibragimova (violin), Alistair Ross (harpsichord & chamber organ), Mark Caudle (violadagamba)
Total running time: 71' 31"
List Price:
$16.98
GBP13.99
(Of course, it can easily be had for less on many online stores...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
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...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Brilliant, stirring, excitingly unpredictable, fresh performance; "genius" is not hyperbole in Argerich's case. Disadvantages: Reflecting its LP origins, the CD lasts only 50' 16"!
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22.07.2004
