Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1

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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: A definite easy listen
Disadvantages: Maybe too easy

...This CD was probably a strange choice for me as i've never bought a classical album before, but i was attracted by the front cover ( i know never judge a book by its cover, but it was a CD) which seemed to depict everything i was looking for. Something i could just lie back, listen to and drift away into my own little dream world. Well it did exactly that. I drifted off to sleep after about track 6 and dint wake untill the CD had ended. This unfortunately meant id missed out on the majority of the songs but i soon listened to it again to get the full effect. It is definitely as described a very peaceful album. The music seems to lift you up and allow u to float above the world but i warn it does make u feel very drowsy. Whether id advise u to buy it or not depends on if ur into classical music. Although saying that i wudnt... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Beautiful relaxing music. Rich instrumentation. Played with passion.
Disadvantages: Not all instruments are from the period.

...by Bach. This was not always the case however. They were originally not very well received. Johann Sebastian Bach, one of the giants of the baroque period, presented the set of concertos as a gift to the Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg in 1721. The Margrave never even acknowledged the gift let alone thanked Bach for his work. For the next thirteen years, the concertos were to languish in the marquis' library untouched. It was only on his death, that they were then released and shared with the public. There are many, many recordings of the Brandenburg concertos. This particular album is a 1959 recording of Yehudi Menuhin and the Bath Festival Orchestra published in May, 1995 by Emi Classical. Can a recording from nearly 50 years ago possibly stand the test of time? The simple answer is yes it can and does so superbly. Baroque works... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful