If I was buying one JS Bach recording, which should it be?

Senior Member

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by hungryhalibut:
OK. I always thought a sonata was a solo instrument... This is getting me confused. [QUOTE]

Nigel,

The term "sonata" refers to a musical form, used in solo music, and frequently music for two or more instruments. Here is the first response to a "google" of "sonata form". It is a very concise definition of the term. The exposition/development/recap order is used in most symphonies of the classical period as well, and the expo/dev/recap will sound very familiar once you know what to listen for. I would venture to say that a similar formula is used in blues and rock!

[QUOTE]No wonder people find classical music hard. [QUOTE]

No matter, just enjoy the music.

[QUOTE]Still, with my Bach knowledge developing, she will hopefully find me irrestistible!!

Nigel

No doubt she will

Norman

Posts: 617 | Location: CA, USA | Registered: Fri 27 February 2004

Ignored post by Cosmoliu posted

Senior Member

Posted

OK, so in addition to not being able to post photos, this multiple quote/response thing is beyond me.

Norman

Posts: 617 | Location: CA, USA | Registered: Fri 27 February 2004

Ignored post by Cosmoliu posted

Senior Member

Posted

quote:
Pierre Hantaii's (my favourite among easily obtained recordings, and it really does sing) reading on the Harpsichord of the Goldberg Variations. I pointed out that the best Hantaii recording is in my opinion the one on Opus 111 (French company),

That's the one I've ordered, on import.

Nigel

Posts: 5574 | Location: Where the streets are crammed with things, eager to be held... | Registered: Sun 27 April 2003

Ignored post by hungryhalibut posted

Senior Member

Posted

quote:
P.S. Just checked Amazon.co.uk again. It's still available.

If you get a minute, would you be able to post a link to the two CD set - I simply can't find it!

Nigel

Posts: 5574 | Location: Where the streets are crammed with things, eager to be held... | Registered: Sun 27 April 2003

Ignored post by hungryhalibut posted

pe-zulu

Member

Posted

Nor can I find it at amazon.uk , but never-the-less JPC lists it:

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/6744869/rk/classic/rsk/hitlist

Posts: 494 | Location: Denmark | Registered: Thu 02 September 2004

Ignored post by pe-zulu posted

RiNo

Senior Member

Posted

quote:
I pointed out that the best Hantaii recording is in my opinion the one on Opus 111 (French company),

Thank you Fredrik
I have several Opus111 records and they are often xciting!
I'll check it out (with the Mullova disc)

Regards
Rickard

Posts: 907 | Location: sweden | Registered: Tue 05 July 2005

Ignored post by RiNo posted

Member

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by hungryhalibut:
quote:
P.S. Just checked Amazon.co.uk again. It's still available.

If you get a minute, would you be able to post a link to the two CD set - I simply can't find it!

Nigel

Er, I would Nigel but not sure how ! This modern technology is beyond me. However, I just go in on amazon.co.uk, choose the classical music criteria, type Mullova in the search and press go. Bingo ! All of Mullova's discs. Note that the main description of the disc is 'Bach's Violin Concertos' - the SECOND disc of the set contains the Partitas. Let me know if you finally find them ! WW.

Posts: 68 | Location: Warsaw, Poland | Registered: Fri 14 October 2005

Ignored post by Wugged Woy posted

Senior Member

Posted

I admit defeat. Amazon has only the single concertos disc, so far as I can see, and I can't understand the German site, though the CD is undoubtedly there.

Nigel

Posts: 5574 | Location: Where the streets are crammed with things, eager to be held... | Registered: Sun 27 April 2003

Ignored post by hungryhalibut posted

Ian G.

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Posted

Is this it ??

Posts: 1843 | Location: Edinburgh, Scotland | Registered: Fri 08 October 2004

Ignored post by Ian G. posted

Senior Member

Posted

Indeed it is!! Many thanks.

Nigel

Posts: 5574 | Location: Where the streets are crammed with things, eager to be held... | Registered: Sun 27 April 2003

Ignored post by hungryhalibut posted

Senior Member

Posted

BTW, am I the only one who noticed in the cover photo how long V. Mullova's fingers are!? Reminds me that it was said that J. Heifetz could span a tenth (two tones beyond an octave), and that he could play running octaves with first/third fingers alternating with second/fourth fingers. Surely a detail few wanted to know, but I think I have happened on an explanation for why I cannot play as well as either!

Norman

Posts: 617 | Location: CA, USA | Registered: Fri 27 February 2004

Ignored post by Cosmoliu posted

Member

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by hungryhalibut:
Indeed it is!! Many thanks.

Nigel

Glad you found it ! Get it ordered Nigel !

IanGtoo, thanks for doing the technical stuff for me ! WW.

Posts: 68 | Location: Warsaw, Poland | Registered: Fri 14 October 2005

Ignored post by Wugged Woy posted

Senior Member

Posted

quote:
Glad you found it ! Get it ordered Nigel !

'Tis already done! Dispatached by Amazon and on its way to sunny Emsworth.

Nigel

Posts: 5574 | Location: Where the streets are crammed with things, eager to be held... | Registered: Sun 27 April 2003

Ignored post by hungryhalibut posted

Member

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by hungryhalibut:
quote:
Glad you found it ! Get it ordered Nigel !

'Tis already done! Dispatached by Amazon and on its way to sunny Emsworth.

Nigel

Super. Let us know what ya think.

Posts: 68 | Location: Warsaw, Poland | Registered: Fri 14 October 2005

Ignored post by Wugged Woy posted

Ian G.

Senior Member

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Wugged Woy:

Super. Let us know what ya think.

yeah - maybe I have to buy it too then ...

Posts: 1843 | Location: Edinburgh, Scotland | Registered: Fri 08 October 2004

Ignored post by Ian G. posted

Senior Member

Posted

quote:
for something a little different you could do worse than try Edgar Meyer playing the cello suites arranged for double bass, it seems to be difficult to get hold of now but very worth the effort.

Huw

I have just won a copy of this on US eBay for $15.50 and will report back. I'm very pleased with that.

Nigel

Posts: 5574 | Location: Where the streets are crammed with things, eager to be held... | Registered: Sun 27 April 2003

Ignored post by hungryhalibut posted

Senior Member

Posted

quote:

'Tis already done! Dispatached by Amazon and on its way to sunny Emsworth.

Nigel

Nigel,

After all this, I decided to pull out my cherished copy and revisit it this evening. At the risk of seeming presumptuous, I would like to make a few suggestions on approaching the three Partitas.

You might find it a bit of a slog to put the CD on and sit through the entire 77 minutes. If not, great, and you are truly hooked. On the other hand, rather than let the CD slip into the role of background music, you may want to get aquainted with it a little at a time. To that end, you might want to go to the Chaconne (Ciaccona, cut 13), which is the best known of all movements off this set, often performed as a stand alone piece. (The Preludio, which leads off the third Partita, is the other well known movement, and you may actually recognize the tune.) As you get to know the Ciaccona and some of its intricacies of musical line, you will begin to get a handle on how towering an achievement the music and this performance really is. I would then recommend getting to know the second Partita in its entirety, then the other two.

I hope you grow to love the music as much as I have.

Regards,

Norman

Posts: 617 | Location: CA, USA | Registered: Fri 27 February 2004

Ignored post by Cosmoliu posted

Member

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Cosmoliu:
Nigel,

After all this, I decided to pull out my cherished copy and revisit it this evening. At the risk of seeming presumptuous, I would like to make a few suggestions on approaching the three Partitas.

You might find it a bit of a slog to put the CD on and sit through the entire 77 minutes. If not, great, and you are truly hooked. On the other hand, rather than let the CD slip into the role of background music, you may want to get aquainted with it a little at a time. To that end, you might want to go to the Chaconne (Ciaccona, cut 13), which is the best known of all movements off this set, often performed as a stand alone piece. (The Preludio, which leads off the third Partita, is the other well known movement, and you may actually recognize the tune.) As you get to know the Ciaccona and some of its intricacies of musical line, you will begin to get a handle on how towering an achievement the music and this performance really is. I would then recommend getting to know the second Partita in its entirety, then the other two.

I hope you grow to love the music as much as I have.

Regards,

Norman

Perfectly put. Nice post Norman.

Posts: 68 | Location: Warsaw, Poland | Registered: Fri 14 October 2005

Ignored post by Wugged Woy posted

Senior Member

Posted

Thanks very much, Woy.

Norman

PS,

Actually, what made me think to post a brief "guide" was that when I first listened to the Goldberg Variations a couple of years ago, I didn't warm up to it immediately. Perhaps it was because I was not introduced to it in my youth. At any rate, as a totally new piece, it was pretty overwhelming at first, and it took a good dozen listenings to get into it. However, once I began to hear the incredible interweaving of lines and wonder at how ten fingers could possibly convey so much content, I began to acquire more copies just to hear what different performers did with it. Now hardly two or three evenings pass without putting one or another of the versions on to listen, and I always find a new revelation. So, if I, not exactly a Bach newbie, found a new work confusing, I thought anyone new to the unaccompanied violin works could use some help.

Posts: 617 | Location: CA, USA | Registered: Fri 27 February 2004

Ignored post by Cosmoliu posted