Gigantor - those two Murray Perahia selections are outstanding; the 8 cd set contains the individual Golberg cd so is tremendous value, and gives you the keyboard concertos, English suites, the Partitas and Brandenburg 5 in which there is the most stupendous solo piano cadenza. A great selection, at a very good price. Buy it. Can you download CDs in oz? If so, linnrecords and Hyperion have some very fine Bach performances.

Hello Likesmusic.  I am not up to speed on downloading music.  I only use iTunes.  I know Naim has streamers.  But I am not in a position to purchase one of these and I think my wife would have trouble using it.  Though she has no trouble with her iPhone and iPad.  My next hardware purchase will be the CD5 XS.  It might be a Christmas present for both of us.

Paul.

I purchased it.  My wife is going to hang me when all these CDs arrive in the mail (help!).

Paul.

It is a sad day. This is around post 77 and nobody did mention yet that Bach was an ORGANIST and played the ORGAN. This is the key to understand Bach. My suggestion is to buy the book 'Johann Sebastian Bach; the learned musician' written by Christoph Wolff and contact a professional organist to play you some organworks on a decent instrument.

or search on ytb for

Dear Ardbeg or should I say Single Malt, Smokey and Peaty.  I would not mind a dram right now.  The only works I could find by Ton Koopman was

iYAAOSwTuJYvf2%7E" target="_blank">http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Org...e:giYAAOSwTuJYvf2~

It is a little more than I can afford at the moment as I have spent so much.  Though I will add it to my watch list for maybe next month.

I must say this forum is good in helping me spend money that I do not have.

Paul.

Paul, you don't have to spend money on Bach for now. Bach remains good on even the most crappy recordings. That is because Bachs music is strongly dependent on counterpoint and the music in itself is great, not dependent on recording or even performance. One of the best concerts I've been in my life was when I by accident walked in a church and choir of people being aged 70+ on average were singing 'Wohl mir das ich Jesum habe'.

Contrary to this, I greatly like performances of e.g. Ton Koopman because it is very alive and energetic.

So, to get into Bach, you can start listening on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube and find what you like. Then you can purchase something.

Cue: Mr Gigantor, R3 now.

C.

R3?

Paul.

BBC Radio 3, as per this time yesterday. I was in such a hurry to get you to tune in for 'Bach before 7' that I abbreviated too much. St Matthew Passion excerpt this morning.

Chris

Thanks Chris, maybe later.  I am listening and enjoying the 6 Partitas BWV 825 - 830.  This is an understatement.  Though there is so much to Bach.  I am enjoying a cheap single malt whilst I preview on iTunes.  Fortunately I have been able to track down the first 8 of Gramophone's Top 10.  With the last two I have improvised with recommendations from the forum.  Some, the rare ones I have purchased.  The others remain in the wing.  There are still on or two of the Top 3 out there.  There maybe more.  It is definitely worth a tap of the keyboards and using Google, eBay and Decca Classics.

Paul.

G'day, back again.  I am in need of some advice.  I do not like spending more than I have too as finances are a little light on at the moment.

It may be a no brainer.  Though if I can save a few dollars I would like too.

There is this CD

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/252...e=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

The seller has zero feedback.

Or this box set

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/381...e=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

The single CD is also available at Amazon here

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offe...f_primeEligible=true

Though by the time it arrives in Australia.  I may have been better off purchasing the box set.

I am not a classical piano appreciator.  Though I never thought I would be so taken with stringed instruments outside of a guitar.

I am a little spell struck with what I have been listening to of Bach on iTunes and am looking forward to hearing the CDs I have purchased on our home stereo.

I am trying to like the Cello Suites.  Though I am not there as yet.

Over to you.

Warm regards,

Paul.

I truly am a Dill. After revisiting iTunes the CD is valued for download at $67.99 AUD.  I think I will go with the box set as long as it is an original and not an internet copy.  I apologise for wasting everyone's time.

Paul.

Ah!  Bugger, the Box set is in cardboard sleeves.  Not jewel cases.  What do forum members think?

Paul.

Personally i hate plastic jewel cases and quite happy with cardboard sleeves : )

Debs

OK. This could be good news.  I had an issue with a triple CD cardboard sleeve where the it feel apart and glue was deposited all over one CD.  It was less than 12 months old and possibly the second time I had played it.  Thankfully the shop where I purchased it from exchanged it for a double CD.  I was not going to chance my luck a second time with a deluxe triple CD option.

I am only new to purchasing music again as our amplifier has been dead for so many years I can not remember (night shift, too tired for any enjoyment).  Thus I called it quits and purchased a Naim Nait XS2.

I had the impression, correct or not that cardboard sleeves were for those that copied their CDs to a hard drive.  If my reasoning as a new chum to CDs again is incorrect.  Please shed some light on the subject.

I have this fear that cardboard will scratch the CD.  Is my reasoning incorrect and unfounded?

Paul.

Thanks Debs.  I am learning all a new.  I have Googled card board sleeves vs jewel cases and have now learned about digipaks.  I think I am a little old school and have to catch up with the times.  All help gratefully appreciated.

Paul.

Paul, i find jewel cases tend to break too easy, and need more parking space on the shelf, so i find cardboard very acceptable especially with box-sets which in jewel case form can often be fiddly to extract the CDs, and the boxset cases tend to be rather too chunky imho...

I like the CDs themselves to be well made though, with top sonic quality recordings - obviously ; )

Thanks Debs, I am learning anew.  I have placed my order with Amazon and look for ward to these CDs arriving in the next couple of weeks.  I would have been in so much trouble with me dear wife.  Except she has elected to purchase a French Bulldog to accompany her two pugs.  I think I am safe with a few CDs : )

Paul.

Gigantor posted:

G;day Emre, I had a peek and this is what I found.  Not the box set you have posted.  No biggie.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=s...4&rnid=492502011

Warm regards,

Paul.

I don't know this one but are you after only Cantatas?  I OWN THE DG set is all quality and excellent choices....

If you're after the cantatas: ensure you'll get cantata BWV 121 'Aus der Tiefe' and BWV 140 'Wachet auf'. They truly expose the brilliance of J. S. Bach in a most accessible way for Bach starters.

Gigantor posted:

Ah!  Bugger, the Box set is in cardboard sleeves.  Not jewel cases.  What do forum members think?

Paul.

In box sets, I am not a fan of cardboard myself.  Basically a cheap, short-term solution with a whole host of issues.  If I had to choose, I prefer the ones where they have paper on the outside but some have a cut out circle with the clear plastic liner on one side so you can see which disc you have.  These are the best but I see fewer and fewer of these.  As was said, I don't like how you have to wrestle the disc in and out of cardboard and how some fall apart etc.  The condition of the disc goes down fast.  I prefer to stick my finger in the middle and only handle by the edges.

For single or double /triple albums etc. I still prefer the jewel case even to those with a cardboard outside.  At least a jewel case can stand up without falling over if it is on an end.  Jewel cases do tend to arrive in the mail damaged though when the vendors do not ship then in better packaging (which is 99% of the time).  I used to get mad and return any imperfection but this was a full time job for me.  Now I tend to just accept it and move on.  One day in the future I'll buy a huge amount of empty jewel cases for the parts and then fix the damaged ones I have.  I suppose I should do this sooner than later before they stop making these things.

My original attraction was reverential music that spoke to the soul.  The more I delve into Bach, the more I find his music does this.  As I am still learning all the terms one uses with classical music I am not sure.  I think it is cantatas that I enjoy though I am also quite taken with violin concertos.

For better or worse I did end up ordering the cardboard sleeve box set from Amazon.  I am hoping that Amazon will pack the CDs better than a local Oz eBay seller.

I am truly looking forward to the arrival of the CDs I have purchased and to tune out local noise and immerse myself in some fine music.  There is only so much 80's soft rock that one can listen too.  Though are we not spoiled with all the wonderful options we have at hand.

Excuse me Emre, who is DG please?

Ardbeg10Y, Thank you for your reference.  I will check it out on either iTunes or YouTube.  I think I have exhausted my credit card for a while and give it a well earned rest.  No recommendation is ignored.  I require a rest after all the research and purchasing I have been doing.

Warm regards to all,

Paul.

http://www.deutschegrammophon.com

DG a legendary recording house for classical

http://www.deutschegrammophon.com

DG a legendary recording house for classical

Thank you Emre,

I found this.  Though the track I checked was in German.  Thank you for directing me to this site.  Though for the moment I will concentrate on pieces in English.

Warm regards,

Paul.

P.S.  I have spent more than enough money and will await, patently for my Bach CD's to arrive in the mail.  Time for enjoyment approaches.