While painting doors downstairs, I have been listening to Radio 3 a lot. I keep hearing bits of Bach and thinking 'that's good'.

I heard one piece the other day and bought it only to discover that it was by CPE Bach, JS's son. I'll probably find that the critical view is that CPE Bach is crap, but I like it. So I still need one JS Bach CD.

Which should I buy, at a sensible price? Only one mind.

I hope this choice does not cause Fredrik any angst!!

Nigel

Nigel, I have to get it right! [Nail biting smiley]!

I would send you to something that will sound very safe, but will never fail to give pleasure, and will spefify the performance too. It is not the only way to play the music, but it makes a splendid introduction.

The Six Brandenberg Concertos played by the English Concert directed by Trevor Pinnock on DG Archive. Nowadays it almost certainly issued with the Four Orchestral Suites at bargain price, and actually will be on perhaps four fairly short discs. This is plum stuff. If you buy other recordings of it, I do think you will keep the Pinnock set

Have fun with it. You will adore it. Where next would be for another time, I think! Fredrik

Seconded whole-heartedly, this one:

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/5000555/rk/classic/rsk/hitlist

Regards,

They may be acquired seperately too:

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/8854160/rk/classic/rsk/hitlist

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/6392781/rk/classic/rsk/hitlist

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/7363005/rk/classic/rsk/hitlist

Agree with pe-zulu and Fredrik (not personally my favourite Bach disc, but certainly a very good one to start out with). Here are links to them on Amazon UK: box set and discs one and two individually.

regards, Tam

Thanks to you all - such agreement is a rare thing. As it's only £11.97 I need something else to go over the £15 for free postage. A harpsichord piece, I think - what do you suggest?

Nigel

Nigel,

You said one disc!

Okay get Grumiaux's set of the Violin Concertos on Philips! Probably cost as much for it as the rest, but it is wonderful, and would make an intersting contrast as this is not a performance on Baroque style instruments.

No doubt someone better than me will help with the catalogue number. It is one of several performances I have, and I keep coming back to it!

Again it will never leave once you get it! Fred

Nigel,

If you're after a harpsichord piece, I would get a set of goldberg variations (unfortunately I can't recommend one - as I haven't got around to buying it played on the harpsichord yet, but I'm sure Fredrik will be able to).

regards, Tam

Oh Dear!

Get Tatianna Nicholeaeva or Angela Hewitt on Piano (both on Hyperion) or Pierre Hantaii playing harpsichord on Opus 111 (a French label), but he has rerecorded it again for another company, and in my view less nicely.

Persoanlly I would go for the Hantaii on harpsichord on Opus 111 which is what you asked for I think.

[Smiley]. Fredrik

Dear Nigel,

If you can get all three! Not expensive really, and a splendid mixed starting point. Good luck! Fred

What about this?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000057CK/qid.../202-2968747-4128631

Nigel

Please ignore the above post, but I can't delete it. I found the Hantaii as a US import, so I've ordered that, as well as the Brandenburg by Pinnock and the Hewitt Goldberg. It will be interesting to contrast the latter on piano and harpsichord.

Many thanks, and goodnight.

Nigel

Dear Nigel,

I had that, and my LP is still with a good friend. Yes, it is fine, and will give great pleasure. I am not a real strick, get my favourite effort, sort of person. There are lots of good ones and that is one of them! Fred

J.S.Bach Concerto for two, three and four harpsichords - NAXOS. Inexpensive and jolly good value.

The concertos for three and four harpsichords with the volume up...rock and roll.

Erik

Erik! Can you imagine the dust from all those copulating skeltons! Only joking, that would be a good fun and enjoyable choice! Fredrik

quote:

Originally posted by hungryhalibut:
What about this?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000057CK/qid.../202-2968747-4128631

Nigel

This recording (Pinnock on Archive) would be one of my four recommendations for the Goldbergs.
Actually I am going to revive Fredrik´s Record Library thread and post my recommendations for J.S.Bach´s most important works (exclusive the Cantatas) next week.

Regards,

Pe-zulu!

I can't wait! What a lovely idea, though it will be a good deal of work! Fredrik

Bravo Fredrik,

I agree completely on the Pinnock Brandenbergs and Angela Hewitt's Goldberg Variations. I have Julia Fischer's well reviewed Unaccompanied Violin Sonatas and Partitas on order and look forward to seeing how it compares with my other half dozen or so versions.

Norman

Dear Hungry Halibut

you will buy 20 or more CDs now. It is unavoidable.

You might have thought you could have stopped at just one- I can try Bach, it's a free country, just one wont hurt- but you never could.

In fact before you started you were lost: Frederiks recomendation, one with which I wholeheartedly agree, was for three disks packaged as one [originally sold as two, or three depending on which country you live in].

Now you're being recommended the Goldbergs: Angela Hewtitt. On a Naim systen absolutely wonderfully beautiful. But, what about the harpsichord, and then Glen Gould too [two]. And violin partitas, the cello suites, the....

You might have noticed you got a relatively large number of replies in a relatively short time period. This is no coincidence.

Unless you want to spend hundreds of pounds, thousands of hours, stop now. Say no. It might not be not too late.

SJ

Dear all
Since 1998 I've bought roughly 10 CDs (but alot of records).
Until I bought Angela Hewitt with Bach: French concertos. Then I had to buy: the English concertos, Goldberg variations, keyboard concertos vol 1 & 2 and some more!
I love the music!
Just the other week I bought The Brandenburg concertos on Opus 111 with the Italian oechestra and Alessandro something, also very enjoyable. I think I need to visit the music room more.
Now I''m off to check my Lp stash for teh Pinnock on DG...

Regards
Rickard