Walcha plays Bach (and not on the pianoforte)

Before reading anything I might have to say on this, I strongly recommend you take a look at these two thread from Fredrik:

Walcha Plays Bach

Bach NOT on the pianoforte

I did consider e-mailing Adam and asking him to unlock those threads but since I want to talk about both and he probably has better things to do with his time anyway, I thought I would start another.

Now, on the first of those threads, I went into some detail as to why I didn't much care for Bach's keyboard work as played on the harpsichord, so it is only reasonable to ask why I've started this thread.

Well, today a box set I ordered turned up (which for inexcusable reasons best known to EMI is not available here and thus had to be purchased from Amazon.fr). So what made me turn around and buy 5 discs of Bach on the harpsichord (including the Goldbergs, the Well Tempered and some fillers)? Partly it was my respect for Walcha's artistry. Thanks to Fredrik, I have had the opportunity to hear his wonderful organ account of the Art of Fugue and was much impressed by it. The second thing was a short while back CD Review played some of a new recording of the Goldbergs made on harpsichord and couldn't see why I disliked the idea as much as I had done. In fairness, I've always had something of a fascination with the harpsichord going back some years - my neighbours used to have one in their living room when I was growing up (and I used to get in trouble if I tried to play it - but I found the sound the keys made fascinating). However, the dislike I had for the instrument must have come from hearing it poorly played somewhere (since I'm sure it can sound samey and it does inherently lack the range of the piano as discussed in Fredrik's thread). However, the performance on CD Review made me wonder if I'd been a little unfair to it and that perhaps I should give it another go.

Well, the box arrived today and I've listened to the Goldbergs and they are wonderful. Fredrik suggests they're very swift but I don't feel they're rushed. I was also pleasantly surprised by the range of sounds Walcha generates from his instrument. What is nice about the harpsichord is that, in freeing the music of the inevitable mannerisms of the piano, all that is left is the music. And I find I simply can't shake it out of my head.

So, should Bach always be performed on the harpsichord and not the piano. No. I remain very fond of my Barenboim Well Tempered and while I've never especially got on with either of the Gould Goldbergs I am sure that there must be wonderful piano accounts about (it's just a case of getting round to buying them - so let's not use this thread for recommending those as we have recently had one doing just that). No, more the point is to suggest that I think hearing this music on an instrument similar to one Bach would have intended (and so different from modern pianos) gives an understanding into it that would be hard, if not impossible to get otherwise. In short, I think people shouldn't be put off the harpsichord and could do a lot worse than spend the 20 or so pounds it costs to have this one shipped from France. While people may prefer the piano (and a piano account I regard as really great - though Hewitt, spotted at budget price, is on its way - I don't feel in a position to comment as to whether I prefer one or the other), they should nevertheless hear it on the harpsichord too.

I do intend to comment further on this set, and in particular on some of the things that really impressed me about it (and there were many), but I wasn't really noting which variations they were so it will have to wait until I've had another listen (which I shall be doing soon - this is a really great set).

regards Tam