I am not a particular enthusiast of arrangements of Bach most of the time. But here is an exception.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApN31QRqgIk

No comment from me, but worth two minutes of any one's time to listen to this. The piece itself is my favourite music, bar none ...

Originally an organ piece from the Orgelbuchlein, it was arranged by Busoni, and here the soloist simply playes the Chorale, with Busoni's paino arrangement taylored to fit. There is a grand piano recording of this by Edwin Fischer, which I have heard just once.

Would anyone else like to put up link's to other arrangements of sublime music that only seems to get to the heart of the matter ... ?

George

Dear George
Thanks for the link. Beautiful, etherical playing from this somewhat overlooked artist. His recording of the Bach suites is beautiful and noble, but has always stood in the shadow of Fournier, who´s recording for Archive it reminds of.
Regards,

Well George, waddya know?

I drifted into HMV on my way back from work this evening in the forlorn hope of finding something interesting. Ten minutes browsing later I come across a four CD set from Naxos called "The A-Z of Pianists". It's obviously a labour of love, as the set comes with a 700(!) page booklet that gives a short biography and a list of key recordings for each pianist. My first impressions are that the set is an excellent resource for anyone wishing to expllore the piaon repertoire, and I'm looking forward to many hours of enjoyment from it.

Getting to the point, Edwin Fischer is featured in the set (of course, I guess you would say), playing none other than the piece you link to (which is lovely indeed). Small world, eh?

By the way, I remember you extolling the virtues of Fischer's WTC, and that may well be the next version I buy (when I feel like a fresh one to get to grips with).

Thanks for the excellent link!

Dear Drood! Please send me an email. In profile. George

This not quite an arrangement, but then not quite as Bach planned it either - still worth the encounter! Madame Kirsten Flagstad singing the great Chorale from "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDlNBUXS_tc

I hope you all enjoy this!

George

This is another performance from Flagstad: Greig's song Varen, where the arrangement is from a piano original. This recording, I am fairly sure was made in London in 1948 with the Philharmonia under Braitewaite.

I am inclined to think that her prowess was sadly wasted on Wagner given her complete understanding of the words here! Naturally she sang a Norwegian Melodie [Art Song] in her native tongue, and so much better than subsequent commercial recordinmgs which usually come mangled in other languages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em2M8CljR2U

I hoped this might be found. It is probably my favourite example of the soprano voice. I have it on records too!

George

Dido's Lament from Henry Purcell. Not an arrangement, but a fine reminder that some things are timeless. [Our own times have produced performances that are speculatively more like what Purcell might have expected, but somehow I doubt he would have been too unhappy with Flagstad's part in this]. Recorded by EMI with the Philharmonia under Geraint Jones, and with the most of the singing cast from the production at the Mermaid Theatre, for which Madame Flagstad received two pints of Guiness for each performance! Could that happen with todays super star Divas?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6ZQACoD1C8

George

Barbara Hendriks singing Schubert's Ave Maria. I have not idea who is responsibly for the arrangement, but the result is so splendid ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bjGdTDsFpE&feature=related

George

PS: Elisabeth Schumann made what I think is the most beautiful recording of this in 1934 with half a dozen memebrs of the VPO for HMV. I wish someone would release that superb performance again! Only a few strings, harp and double bass as I remember it, and Schumann soared in it. Amazing.

If you like Bach [smiley] and double-bass [double-plus smiley] I suggest ...

"Gary Karr plays Bach" ...

I got this maybe 5/10 years ago in a sale and its mostly in Japaneese [i.e. the programme notes] but it's arrangements of Bach for double-bass solo and double-bass + organ [harmon lewis].

James H.

Here is a track listing ...

1 Komm Susser Tod, Bwv478
2 Preludes And Gallantries: Prelude
3 Preludes And Gallantries: Sarabande
4 Preludes And Gallantries: Gavotte
5 Jesu, Joy Of Man`S Desiring, Bwv147
6 Air From Orchestral Suite No.3 In D Major, Bwv1068
7 Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme, Bwv645
8 Sheep May Safely Graze, Bwv208
9 Menuet From Notenbuh Der Anna Magdalena Bach, Bwvanh.114
10 Erbarm`Dich Mein, O Herre Gott", Bwv721
11 Gavotte From Partita No.3, Bwv1006
12 Gloria Sei Dir Gesungen From Kantata "Wacht Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme", Bwv147
13 Adagio From Toccata C-Dur, Bwv564

from ....

link to Gary Karr plays Bach [in Japennese ?]

James H.

Interesting (and relevant!) post on the "On an Overgrown Path" music blog here:

Bach Transcriptions

Scroll down past the book review (or read it if you like), and you'll find brief notes from the blogger on three CDs of Bach transcriptions. I'm very tempted by the "Chaconne" disc, but that could just be because I've fallen for the pianist!

Bach's Italian Concerto, swung in Loussier's inimtable style, and its fantastic!

First Movement

Second Movement and Finale

Hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

George

If not arranged, certainly improvised upon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KfNBohMBuE&feature=user

Elisabeth Schumann in operetta! Lehar!

She, and Flagstad with her completely contrasted voice, are my two favourite sopranos!

George

Dame Kiri, singing the Ave Maria in Latin, where it seems to me the words make more sense!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRxcrPiT2k4&NR=1

George

Scarborough Fair.

Priceless Simon and Garfunkel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYQaD2CAi9A

George

Fly me to the Moon. Astrud Gilberto. I sometimes think no polite medium is more evocative than music in suggesting sex!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6YbQPVLLcw&feature=related

george

Louis Armstrong: What a Wonderful World.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5IIXeR5OUI&feature=related

We should never forget to hope. George

Not sure if this an arrangement, but it is something good: The Anton Karas Theme from the "Third Man," played live in 1982.

At first it seems rather cautious, but it builds well into a satisfying performance, which still captures some of the inherent menace of its original performance for the film.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZZHq2JSnnE&feature=related

Here is a contemporary recording, which makes an interesting comparison.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqVxVT796IE&feature=related

Apparently it was a number one hit in 1950!

George

I saw these three last August in the Glowy Reineke [Main Square] in Kracków, and let me say that in the actual setting they were much more impressive than on this film, which seems sadly flawed towards the end ...

They also played rather better as they also do on the recording I have of them on CDs. This I post to show something of the Polish mentality about music. Busking does not equate to just playing easy music. The centre and left players are called Vitaly Klymenko and Aleksandr Drach from the Ukraine. It cost me bob or two, because I left half the money I had left [in Złotych] in their basket! The other half paid for the taxi to the airport at 3 am next morning!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VDoEfHBABI

George

Its good to see them George.
I love there album.
The youtube does not do them justice.
There cd is something every one should hear IMO.
Stuart