Bach well tempered clavier book 2 harpsichord sounds

Elizabeth anderson the welltempered clavier, book 2, part 2. A welltempered clavier full of character early music america. Whats the best recording of bachs well tempered clavier. He titled it simply twentyfour preludes and fugues with no reference to the well tempered clavier. Bach welltempered clavier book 2 virgin veritas 3857952. In thomas manns novel lotte in weimar an old goethe muses on the achievements of his youth and of his maturity the former the work of genius, the latter the work of greatness. English suite no 2 in a minor gigue johann sebastian bach 8. Continue from part 1 donald satz wrote february 16, 2001. There are many fine recordings of bachs 48 on both piano and harpsichord, but christophe rousset has something special to offer here a gorgeous ruckers instrument of. Such thoughts perhaps passed through bachs mind too when surveying his own keyboard output, and the profound differences in sensibility that distinguish.

The third thing to say is that there are many different types of harpsichord, including ones which sound like lute. I usually love any harpsichord recording by christophe rousset but im afraid that the quality of the sound on both book one and book two is poor. Bach, prelude in c major, well tempered clavier book i. The associated board of the royal colleges of music, 1994.

Articulate playing makes for authoritative bach, writes andrew clements. It sounds more dainty, graceful, and delicate all good things when it comes to bach. The c minor prelude of bachs welltempered clavier is very well known and needs no introduction. In the world of johann sebastian bach, as in the world of this magazine, the word clavier implies any keyboard instrument. A playel harpsichord with the marvelous sound of a truckload of. More than that, there is the trademark leonhardt sound. The welltempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the welltempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents.

For others however, bachs welltempered clavier offers a assurance. This serves to bring out the rhythms of the pieces. Book one of the welltempered clavier is performed on the piano while book two is performed on the harpsichord. Bach himself played on the widely contrasting claviers popular in his day. Some news from my research project on the welltempered clavier. The first thing to say is you may want to get yourself a well tempered clavier played on a clavier which is well tempered. The point is made that transcriptions of the welltempered clavier onto anything other than a harpsichord is by no means a betrayal of the music, and its hard to imagine the composer himself would never ever have played. Since the 19thcentury bach revival he has generally been. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. Dec 29, 20 book one of the welltempered clavier is performed on the piano while book two is performed on the harpsichord. His explorations led to an astonishing achievement two books of 24 pre. Continue from part 6 donald satz wrote september 23, 2000. Since a piano has a much rounder sound than a harpsichordless of a. The clavichord, the harpsichord, the organ, the pedalharpsichord.

Dating from the mid 1930s, these recordings feature acceptable but mediocre sound with a fair amount of background noise. The well tempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. Such thoughts perhaps passed through bach s mind too when surveying his own keyboard output, and the profound differences in. In bachs time clavier keyboard was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding. Well tempered clavier book i prelude and fugue in c major johann sebastian bach 9. Js bach was open to use many different forms of keyboards and he equally enjoyed playing the organ, harpsichord, clavichord, lautenclavicymbel lutekeyboard, e. The well tempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the well tempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. Bach, prelude in c major, well tempered clavier book. If all of western art music were to be lost and only one work survive, this wtc would be the first choice of many.

English suite no 2 in a minor sarabande johann sebastian bach 6. Performances of welltempered clavier book i, part 6. The best englishlanguage edition so far, in a paperback version that any serious wtc fancier should own. I think he got bachs strive for perfection the best. Selections from the well tempered clavier, book ii by glenn gould. His harpsichord sounds so pristine and his performance is exquisitely and gorgeously delivered. Well tempered clavier book ii prelude and fugue in g.

The well tempered clavier is two books of music for solo keyboard by js bach, the first written in 1722, and the second twenty years later in 1742. And indeed, the two books of bachs welltempered clavier two. By and large i enjoyed it, while remarking that egarr perhaps laid greater emphasis on bachs declared didactic purpose than on its bravura elements. The harpsichord is a beautiful flemishfrench one recent research shows it is rather more french than flemish that has a rich and deep, and yet bright and clear sound. Bach welltempered clavier book 2 virgin veritas 3857952 bw. Download a free and public domain recording and musical. The well tempered clavier book 2 scrolling duration. The best recordings of js bachs the welltempered clavier. In some of the areas, the fingering is driving me crazy. It explores the intricacies of each of the 12 major and 12 minor keys and constitutes the largestscale and mostinfluential undertaking for solo keyboard of the baroque era. Shermans books include inside early music oxford university press and performing brahms cambridge university press. Book ii of her recording of bachs welltempered clavier was made between 1951 and 1954 at her home in lakeville.

By 1742, the pianoforte or fortepiano invented by cristofori was becoming popular with keyboard players, and bach may have equally had this instrument in mind along with the harpsichord when composing this second set. Notable performances there are lots of recordings of the welltempered clavier available, and one can find them easily either through itunes and amazon, or in the more specialist eshops, such as presto one can find even rare records, such as giesekings or pollinis recordings of the welltempered clavier. Troeger has since made clavichord recordings of book 2 of the well tempered clavier, the art of fugue, the english and french suites, various other suites, fantasias and fugues, and. I tend to play bach kinda straight on piano but i realized that rubato is the only way you can properly emphasize notes on harpsichord so i ended up giving and taking a lot of time. He was so perfectionist that he stopped playing in concerts in 1964. Notable performances there are lots of recordings of the well tempered clavier available, and one can find them easily either through itunes and amazon, or in the more specialist eshops, such as presto one can find even rare records, such as giesekings or pollinis recordings of the well tempered clavier. I dont find this reknowned edwin fischer recording of js bach s well tempered clavier, book ii meets the threshold. The welltempered clavier, composed in 1722 and 1744 and widely considered bachs pinnacle of keyboard music, is divided into two books, each containing 24 preludes and fugues, with each prelude and fugue moving successfully upwards in key, starting with c major. Learn fugue bach minor with free interactive flashcards. Weve come to enjoy bachs welltempered clavier as something of a personal delight, the intimate onetoone of a performer on piano or harpsichord as frequently encountered if not more so than a recording which seems intended to fill a large concert hall.

The welltempered clavier, book ii by ralph kirkpatrick and tens of millions of. Four different instruments are used for this set, and the saintetienne organ on cd 3. For this listener his piano keyboard bach is more interesting than his harpsichord bach and im not at all certain why he elected to change instruments. Buy well tempered clavier 2 by keith jarrett from amazons classical music store. I only like about half the pieces in bach s book ii of his well tempered clavier composed c. The welltempered clavier book two rebecca pechefsky, harpsichord quill classics qc 102.

This is a very fine welltempered clavier and goes way beyond experiment, taking some of the finest keyboard music ever written into stunning new realms. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The one exception is the aminor fugue in book 1 of the wtc. Johann sebastian bachs well tempered clavier posts facebook. A welltempered clavier book i to savor classics today. Troeger has since made clavichord recordings of book 2 of the well tempered clavier, the art of fugue, the english and french suites, various other suites, fantasias and fugues, and transcriptions of bach s solo violin works. As you watch, youll see that bach uses stretto more and more, which heightens the tension of the piece. Prelude in d major continuous semiquavers from the right hand and a staccato bass line makes this prelude very joyous and playful. In fact, it is a whole world of sounds that harpsichord offer, compared to. Johann sebastian bachs well tempered clavier posts.

I just received the book bachs welltempered clavier. The 48 preludes and fugues by david ledbetter and started reading it this afternoon. This 2cd set completes the superbargainprice reissue of bob van asperens recording of the complete welltempered clavier, book i having already been reissued on 3 49963 2. Troeger has since made clavichord recordings of book 2 of the welltempered clavier, the art of fugue, the english and french suites, various other suites, fantasias and fugues, and transcriptions of bachs solo violin works. Schiffs bach sings and dances, and has a clarity derived from a mesmerising touch and an aversion to the sustain pedal. Bach and the clavier by joan benson clavier, volume 29, no. In bachs time clavier was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding an organ either the modern german spelling for. Weve begun with the well tempered clavier the prelude and fugue in cminor from book 1. The well tempered clavier, or preludes and fugues through all tones and semitones, relating to the major third, that is, ut re mi, as well as those related to the minor third, that is, re mi fa. Some 20 years later bach compiled a second book of the same kind, which became known as the welltempered clavier, part two in german. Prelude in d major continuous semiquavers from the right hand and a staccato bass.

Mar 07, 2018 when talking about bachs keyboard works in general, glen gould is always the first and greatest name that comes to my mind. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, is a collection of two sets of preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys, composed for solo keyboard by johann sebastian bach. Troeger has since made clavichord recordings of book 2 of the welltempered clavier, the art of fugue, the english and french suites, various other suites, fantasias and fugues, and. From all the works written in the baroque era, no other work has been so well cherished, frequently performed and thoroughly studied than this work of bach s. I only like about half the pieces in bachs book ii of his welltempered clavier composed c. English suite no 2 in a minor bourree johann sebastian bach 7. For most arrangements, see the separate pages for the individual preludes and fugues. In 1722, johann sebastian bach set out to explore a new way of thinking about sound. Oct 26, 2011 it sounds more dainty, graceful, and delicate all good things when it comes to bach. Informed by the spikier sound of the harpsichord, schiff avoids the temptation. Johann sebastian bach 16851750 the welltempered clavier book 1 bwv 846869 108. Sherman, reprinted from early music america emag, november, 2000. Roussets welldigested sense of style and finished technique permeate every selection.

Bach, prelude in c major, well tempered clavier book i, bwv 846 youtube welltempered clavier j. Welltempered clavier the, book 2 landowska 19511954 wanda landowska, who continued to perform and record up to her death in 1959, was renowned as the greatest harpsichordist of the first half of the twentieth century. Book one of the well tempered clavier is performed on the piano while book two is performed on the harpsichord. Im not used to harpsichord at all but it was a very interesting experience. Remember that harpsichords do not have loud and soft, so players introduce contrast by playing on different registers landowska, or use different timing. Kenneth weiss teil ii nr 1 bwv 870 cdur sinfonia tanzfuge 0. When talking about bachs keyboard works in general, glen gould is always the first and greatest name that comes to my mind.

Choose from 164 different sets of fugue bach minor flashcards on quizlet. Bachs keyboard music on the modern piano, pianists are confronted. Provided to youtube by universal music group prelude no. On points of taste there are one or two pieces i like less than others, such as the rather choppy fugue in c sharp major from book ii, but these would all be minor observations. He is known for instrumental compositions such as the brandenburg concertos and the goldberg variations, and for vocal music such as the st matthew passion and the mass in b minor. When i heard him play bk 2 last year in london, i enjoyed it more than the ecm recording partly because the portato seemed more natural for piano. The impetus for part 7 comes from my buying robert levins new wtc ii on hanssler. S welltempered clavier the, book 2 jando by johann sebastian bach. This is a very fine well tempered clavier and goes way beyond experiment, taking some of the finest keyboard music ever written into stunning new realms. Jsb introduces one of his rare tempo indications in the prelude, marking the second section of the prelude with presto. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. I just received the book bach s well tempered clavier. As ledbetter writes in more in detail, there is no singled out keyboard instrument of the baroque age that js bach had in mind when he wrote the welltempered clavier.