Bach for the starter.
Posted by: u5227470736789439 on 29 November 2009
In another thread that has got into a debate about personal taste and the value thereof, I was asked for a few more early recommendations for recordngs of Bach's music that will appeal and be enjoyable from the off.
The poster suggested that he had enjoyed the new Avie CD set of the Brandenbergs conducted by Trevor Pinock, so let's start with these.
I think that the Brandenberg concertos are the most obvious place to start with Bach, as accessible popular and public music made with the same craft and genius as the later, and without question tougher to immediately grasp, works such as the Leipsig Choral Preludes [which are not actually strictly later but were finallised later in Bach's life] for organ, or The Art Of Fugue or the Musical Offering.
So for the Brandenbergs, may we consider the recordings by Pinnock, the earlier set on DG Archive especially, as I( think it is may be more accurate to the text, and Bach was definitely a most strict adherent to the text ... and they are full of joy, power, and swing ... wonderful, IMO.
Also to consider, though this must currently be second hand currently, is the set from HM Linde, on EMI Virgin which is my favourite set, but has been deleted for far too long. ON EMI Reflexe LPs and EMI Virgin CDs.
On EMI Virgin CD is the slightly more recent set from the Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment, which is absolutely full of spirit and life enhancing joy. More from these later!
As an alternative and necessarily as secondary recommendation I shall put a word ion for the great historical sets from Adolf Busch [Abbey road, 1935], and Mogens Woldike [Copenhagen, 1950/53], both of which show that not everything modern is exactly better than what passed before.
The Busch set also contains his estimable 1936 recordings of the Orchestral Suites, and rounds out three CDs that should be in everyone's library who loves the music of Bach. On EMI in a superb new transfer rom 78s, whilst Woldike is in a very fine Danish transfer from 78s and early tapes.
The [Busch set of] Orcherstral Suites is wonderful, and if you are getting the DG Pinnock [of the Brandenbergs] then get the set with the Suites, the Brandenbergs and various other concertos. It is incredible VFM.
A set of the Suites I am very fond of is the wonderful DHM recordings by the Kjuiken family and La Petite Band. Priceless IMO.
So then we begin to cover the easy and well known works, but there is much else that is every bit as amazing:
The Violin Concertos, Harpsichord Concertos, the Multi-instrument Concertos ... Now we are into the territoy of buying a good few CDs here, but I will be bold and recommend the 3 CD set of Harpsichord Concertos with favourite [harpsichord] soloists and Trevor Pinnock with the English concert on DG-Archive. Complete and never routione or dull. A superb survey of the music in brilliant performances and most satisfactory recordings.
Then comsider the big 2 CD set of Violin Concertos from EMI Virgin with the Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment. Some music making to transport the Soul here, and once again superb VFM.
May I rest now, and consider later in the week the chamber works, the intrumental solo worls, the organ works, and the harpsichord works ... They are not piano works, nerer were and never quite will be ...
The Cantatas and religious Choral Works will require another complete thread for another time.
Please anyone who wants to add in favourite recommendations please do post. It is not my view that matters, but that the non-initate finds a way into this greatest of all music mines! The Music the Johan Sebastion Bach left for us ....
ATB from George
The poster suggested that he had enjoyed the new Avie CD set of the Brandenbergs conducted by Trevor Pinock, so let's start with these.
I think that the Brandenberg concertos are the most obvious place to start with Bach, as accessible popular and public music made with the same craft and genius as the later, and without question tougher to immediately grasp, works such as the Leipsig Choral Preludes [which are not actually strictly later but were finallised later in Bach's life] for organ, or The Art Of Fugue or the Musical Offering.
So for the Brandenbergs, may we consider the recordings by Pinnock, the earlier set on DG Archive especially, as I( think it is may be more accurate to the text, and Bach was definitely a most strict adherent to the text ... and they are full of joy, power, and swing ... wonderful, IMO.
Also to consider, though this must currently be second hand currently, is the set from HM Linde, on EMI Virgin which is my favourite set, but has been deleted for far too long. ON EMI Reflexe LPs and EMI Virgin CDs.
On EMI Virgin CD is the slightly more recent set from the Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment, which is absolutely full of spirit and life enhancing joy. More from these later!
As an alternative and necessarily as secondary recommendation I shall put a word ion for the great historical sets from Adolf Busch [Abbey road, 1935], and Mogens Woldike [Copenhagen, 1950/53], both of which show that not everything modern is exactly better than what passed before.
The Busch set also contains his estimable 1936 recordings of the Orchestral Suites, and rounds out three CDs that should be in everyone's library who loves the music of Bach. On EMI in a superb new transfer rom 78s, whilst Woldike is in a very fine Danish transfer from 78s and early tapes.
The [Busch set of] Orcherstral Suites is wonderful, and if you are getting the DG Pinnock [of the Brandenbergs] then get the set with the Suites, the Brandenbergs and various other concertos. It is incredible VFM.
A set of the Suites I am very fond of is the wonderful DHM recordings by the Kjuiken family and La Petite Band. Priceless IMO.
So then we begin to cover the easy and well known works, but there is much else that is every bit as amazing:
The Violin Concertos, Harpsichord Concertos, the Multi-instrument Concertos ... Now we are into the territoy of buying a good few CDs here, but I will be bold and recommend the 3 CD set of Harpsichord Concertos with favourite [harpsichord] soloists and Trevor Pinnock with the English concert on DG-Archive. Complete and never routione or dull. A superb survey of the music in brilliant performances and most satisfactory recordings.
Then comsider the big 2 CD set of Violin Concertos from EMI Virgin with the Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment. Some music making to transport the Soul here, and once again superb VFM.
May I rest now, and consider later in the week the chamber works, the intrumental solo worls, the organ works, and the harpsichord works ... They are not piano works, nerer were and never quite will be ...
The Cantatas and religious Choral Works will require another complete thread for another time.
Please anyone who wants to add in favourite recommendations please do post. It is not my view that matters, but that the non-initate finds a way into this greatest of all music mines! The Music the Johan Sebastion Bach left for us ....
ATB from George
George,
Thank you very much for this thread. Some recent discussions on this forum cranked up my interest in classical music in general and Bach in particular. I'll gladly keep an eye on the posts here
Thank you very much for this thread. Some recent discussions on this forum cranked up my interest in classical music in general and Bach in particular. I'll gladly keep an eye on the posts here
quote:
Sniper: thank you for the link! This sounds like the kind of classical music I'm seeking to discover these days
Hi Sniper.
I have to agree. I have no musical training (another lamentable oversight) and i have to just listen to the performance and enjoy.
It's far too complex to decypher on the hoof but i expect to get better at it with increased familiarity.
Also after a listen i find myself waving my finger about as if it's a conductor's baton. Great stuff!
Only problem is i think i may do the finger thing on trains and walking about with the ipod
I have to agree. I have no musical training (another lamentable oversight) and i have to just listen to the performance and enjoy.
It's far too complex to decypher on the hoof but i expect to get better at it with increased familiarity.
Also after a listen i find myself waving my finger about as if it's a conductor's baton. Great stuff!
Only problem is i think i may do the finger thing on trains and walking about with the ipod
I have it in the old wrapper... i think it's the same anyway(?)
5 x cd box-set @ 1996 ~ amazon france has it at EUR 18.50 (only available via other sellers),
and via amazon uk (other sellers) new. at a shocking £99 !
The new set (2007) is EUR 20,70 from amazon france or from EUR 9,29 Neuf from other sellers ~ bargain! : )
Is this a re-release and identical to the older one?
ditto that!
George, your forum contributions are often very interesting readings.
I’ve always found your opinions, knowledge and experience to be very helpful in understanding the many aspects of classical musik, and (not to mention) my home, that would be seriously lacking a lot of spellbinding musik if it was not for your generous commitment here with promoting what relates to being so musically tasteful.
So please don’t go! : )
Deborah
5 x cd box-set @ 1996 ~ amazon france has it at EUR 18.50 (only available via other sellers),
and via amazon uk (other sellers) new. at a shocking £99 !
The new set (2007) is EUR 20,70 from amazon france or from EUR 9,29 Neuf from other sellers ~ bargain! : )
Is this a re-release and identical to the older one?
quote:George - good to see you posting here again; I hope you'll stick around, even if your visits become less frequent.
ditto that!
George, your forum contributions are often very interesting readings.
I’ve always found your opinions, knowledge and experience to be very helpful in understanding the many aspects of classical musik, and (not to mention) my home, that would be seriously lacking a lot of spellbinding musik if it was not for your generous commitment here with promoting what relates to being so musically tasteful.
So please don’t go! : )
Deborah