Los Romeros, playing the Finale Bach's Third Brandenburg Concerto. Radio Three made excellent recordings of them some twenty years ago in this music, which really ought to surface as commercial releases now. I rather enjoy the gentle clarity [albeit in a poor recording here] which serves the music rather well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-m5zAVPMfQ&feature=related

George

Ich ruf ... Bach, in Busoni's arrangement.

Dinu Lipati, recorded shortly before his sadly early death, and its priceless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rE0ViyTqJQ&feature=related

George

PS: Too good to miss. Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring, arr Dame Myra Hess Dinu Lipati again. If you want Bach on the piano then this is one amazing way with the music. I gave this recording away to convert a friend to Bach. I really should get it again.

Back in December I attended a concert from the SCO which featured violinist Rachel Barton Pine who had a wonderfully charismatic playing style. More superb than the Tchaikovsky concerto she played was the encore, a blues called Sweet Home Chicago, for which I've just stumbled across a You Tube video:

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

However, possibly even better is Rossini's William Tell overture for violin and accordion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGp4UYS0Xh0


regards, Tam

Thanks Tam! The more the merrier!

And here is some more violin playing if less virtuosic. I have this on an estimable transfer to CD on Biddulph Lab.

Fritz Kreisler plays "Méditation" from Massenet's "Thaïs"

George

George

Bach/Gounod Ave Maria. The incomparable Dame Janet Baker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WC4Qu6tnJQ

George

PS: I have just listened to this twice in a row. It is so beautiful that it is also a sad contrast to the world as it is going. The balance is going and the priorities are getting skewed. Things were never so very fantastic, but now they are getting worse. How long before we return first to medieval tyranny and then the Stone Age. We are racing there as things stand ...

In 1932 Elgar orchestrated the Chopin's Funeral March after a suggestion from HMV and here is the recording made at the time by the then very new BBC SO under Adrian Boult. Elgaer was present at the recording session, and soon became a regular guest of the BBC SO. Boult was a friend of Elgars since his pioneering performances of Elgar's Second Symphony in 1920, though the had a serious disagreement about performing the Dream Of Gerontius in Birmigham in 1927. Boult consulted Elgar about what reductions could be made in the orchestral scoring, as the CBO [now CBSO], which Boult was Chief conductor of, could not afford to buy in all the extra players. Elgar sent Boult away with a flea in his ear, with the comment that it would be better not performed than "reduced." Fred Gaisberg at HMV/EMI was acting as peace-maker in getting this arrangement made and Boult to record it. It also allowed for Elgar to assume a position as guest with thew BBC SO.

It still has some call on our attention. Different times, but still there is something for us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=few3c3t9DpU

George

Bach sung by Flagstad. Very kind artistry, which should let considerations of [the lack of] HIP be forgotten for a few minutes!

Kirsten Flagstad performing "If Thou be near."

George

Ferrier again, singing:

Blow the wind southerly.

Wonderful!

George

Vivaldi arranged by JS Bach. The original Vivaldi version may be heard in a peerless Russian performance from 1966 on the "Unarranged" thread.

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

I am not sure that I would not prefer the pianos to be harpsichords, but this is rather fine on the "wrong instrumants."

Geogre

Bach arranged for the accordion. I prefer the accordion to all instruments except the original intended one for Bach. It has the sustain necessary [for some of the music], while allowing for naturally unforced articulation, which allows the music to breath. I don't know who the player is but this works beautifully. everything is so clear, and that is the most important thing in my view.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymh3qFlE67Y&feature=related

George

Same player with some Beethoven, originally for the piano!

Please listen first and then read down for the title! You will see that Beethoven was a comedian on his day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS7TeLB0q5E&feature=related

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"Rage over a lost penny!"

George

Handel as viewed through the eyes of the early twentieth century. Elgar arranged this from the Second Chandos Anthem, and issued it as Handel's Overture in D Minor. This is not quite such a bad thing as it might nowadays appear, when the original had completely fallen out of the repertoire, and before pioneering HIP performances have really allowed us such a wide range of music in fine renderings. It is good to remind ourselves both what we have gained and in some respects lost. This performance has all the drive, commitment, and seriousness that could be wished for.

Albert Coates conduct the LSO in a 1928 HMV recording.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiBqi5jTlPA

George

Some Bach everyone will recognise, but in a less famous, and in my view more imaginative, arrangement than the famous one by Stokowski.

The arranger here is Sir Henry Wood, who was the founder of the London [now BBC] Promenade concerts. The importance of the work in arrangement of Wood, Elgar, Stokowski and others should not be underestimated in paving the way for the revival of Bach's works. It established the public love of the music, and thus the conditions where the modern HIP movement could prosper ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTWzzDGkdK8

George

The Floral Dance. I had the idea of posting the Terry Wogan "take" on this, but it was too out of tune for me to post, but I did find this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMVTx8b4nYU&feature=related

Peter Dawson shows how it should be sung!

George

Hi Fredrik,

As you know the Jaques Loussier play Bach series offers some really good interpretations that are really sympathetically played. You must remember hearing that last year??

I am sure that Bach would be a Jazz musician if he was arround today!!

FF

Dear Frank,

Though Jazz did not excist in Bach's time, he certainly was one of the greatest improvisers on the theme, and within the rules that do pertian in great Jazz: I think you may well be right!

George

PS: From earlier in this thread: Loussier plays Bach's Italian Concerto.

Dear George

Thank for your link to Henryk Klonowski, which I enjoyed a great deal. Please click here for my brief post on the comparisons I made.

ATB Rotf

As I read this I was listening to Ricercar, ECM 1774 461912-2, and in particular Fuga (Track 14)- Bach orchestrated by Webern. This is one of my 'Desert Island Discs', an example of how to arrange Bach if you have to, and an illustration of how far ahead of the game he was.

Bach orchestrated by Anton Webern: The Six Part Ricecare from the Musical Offering:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV0U-lB45RY

For Mick Roberts, and everyone else.

George

Ferrier performing the "Lion Of Judah," from the Saint John Passion. Strictly this is hardly arranged so much as edited so the English words are accomodated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izyRELf6wwE

George