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

Pray reveal what a Partita is? I don't mind appearing uneducated!!

Nigel

A Score is the word used to describe the printed or manuscript copy of a whole piece of music, and Partita is interchangeable word with it, though its use is rare and possibly even slightly eccentric. Really it simply means Suite, which a very common Baroque term to describe an Overture followed by a fairly set sequence of dance movement. But Partitias tend to be more serious in mucial content than Suites, as may be seen to be largely the case (with notable exceptions), in Bach's Keyboard Partitas, and then The French Suites and English Suites.

Fredrik

quote:

Originally posted by RiNo:
Does anyone know where to get Bach: solo partitas (or what's they're called) for the unaccompanied violin with VICTORIA MULLOVA!!!!

Please
Rickard

Rickard,

Great news. As commented above,it's just been re-issued by Philips as a two disc along with her version of Bach's concertos. This is the original 1995 performance. See Amazon.co.uk, it's about 12 UK pounds. Not much for the most amazing version of the Partitas - a Desert Island disc indeed. If you ever want just one Bach disc,this truly is the one. Enjoy !

Thanks Cosmoliu, Wugged Woy for the good news, Fredrik for an (as always) informative post and last , but not least Nigel, for asking a question tat I probaly never thought about!

Yes good news. I have the Bach sonatas for violin and piano, with Mullova and Bruno Canino. I really like that music, though it has a sort of sad and lamented (wonder if that's the right word) undertone. However, I only got this version and the pianoplaying has always seemed like played on stilts (can't find the right words, "metronomic quality"?)

Well, maybe one of you experienced listeners understand what I'm getting at?
Thanks again for the response!

Regards
Rickard

OK. I always thought a sonata was a solo instrument. Then I got Mozart's Violin Sonatas, with violin AND piano. So is it still solo, with the piano as accompaniment? Now we have partitas (a serious suite!) and the latest to challenge me, an unaccompanied partita - but not a sonata.

This is getting me confused. No wonder people find classical music hard. It's so much easier to stick to The Smiths. Four or five albums, a couple of complilations, and every one indispensible.

Anyway, two Bach CDs should arrive tomorrow from Amazon, with a couple more on the way from the US. That should cheer me up. I can't find the Mullova 2CD on UK Amazon, though it's on the US site.

I only wanted one CD, and I've already got four on the way - so that's about 8 discs. This is only happening because Hilary is in Venice for a few days, leaving me to my own devices. Since she's gone, I've bought all this music, and a Hi-Line. Still, with my Bach knowledge developing, she will hopefully find me irrestistible!!

Nigel

Dear Rickard!

'Playing on Stilts' is a favourite way I have of describing modern Bach Piano playing!

Bach's lines almost always sing, and this is very important to bring out in performance. Don't belief me though for it not my invented opinion (though I agree with it, of course), it is based on what his sons' said about his style on the keyboard! Of course he was playing the Organ, Harpsichord or Clavichord, and never showed any interst in the piano at all.

So how could these older instruments sing? The Piano of course can sing and some of the great players get this on the piano without false romanticism or un-natural stacatti, but the problem is that the music is almost always articulated to a large degree. Sung stacatto!

The strange thing about the Harpsichord is that all the necessary articulation is achieved without straining for the effect, and not least it allows lines to be easily balanced, in what can become truly dense on the piano, even when played in the modern pianistc super-stacatto way. The result of this effortless (it requires great control because of the very light actions in harpsichords) articulacy is a clear natural timbre, which actually does sing through the lines!

So the problem is one of the instruemnt and almost trying to play it like another instrument. If the Piano is emplyed the stylistc and expressive problems multiply compared to the Harsichord.

A while back I posted a Thread called "Bach NOT on the Pianoforte," which goes into this at length. The problem of using an instrument with different expressive technique than the music was designed for is a fundamental one..

All the best from Fredrik

Dear Nigel,

I am prepared to bet you will find Bach just as indispensible as The Smiths once you know he music a bit!

Goo listening! Fred

Thanks Fredrik, enlightening
But I do love Angela Hewitt (ignorance is a bliss )
You make me wanna get some harpsichord records, can you recommend me ONE! (with Bach, or Couperin???)

best regards
Rickard

P.S Nigel I found the current Mullova discography via Philips classics D.S

Dear Rickard,

Don't fear, for there are successful and great Bach performances on the Piano. I think I occasionally suggest one or two, even if I have no doubt that for me the Harpsichord can be even more exilerating in this music.

In fact I would always choose a great Piano rendition in Bach to a less fine one on the Harpsichord! The player is the one who makes the music, and the instrument the machine the get expression from. [Low bandwidth smiley].

ATB from Fredrik

PS: I think you could do well to get Trevor Pinnock's, or 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), and not his later retake for another company, which I personally find less compelling. The Pinnock is easy to find on DG Archiv.

quote:

Originally posted by hungryhalibut:
I can't find the Mullova 2CD on UK Amazon, though it's on the US site.
Nigel

Nigel,
I just bought a copy of Mullova's Partitas via Amazon.co.uk a week ago. It arrived only two days after ordering it. I'm surprised that you can't find it - maybe the rush to buy it has taken Amazon by surprise and they've ran out of copies ! After all, Classical fans have been waiting for years for this re-issue.

Hope you enjoy it - it is truly a fabulous performance. Be amazed. Regards, WW.

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

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

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

Norman

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Indeed it is!! Many thanks.

Nigel

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

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.

quote:

Glad you found it ! Get it ordered Nigel !

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

Nigel

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.

quote:

Originally posted by Wugged Woy:

Super. Let us know what ya think.

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