Bach, the welltempered clavier, book 1 sviatoslav richter 1969 duration. You should hunt down the bootleg from munich 1990 of wtci 18, partita 4 and some transcriptions. Bach, andras schiff the welltempered clavier, book 2. This boxed set of the two books of the welltempered clavier is his latest such release, and shows schiff as a much more mature pianist. At the moment im leaning towards richters but feinbergs is a close second. The welltempered clavier by johann sebastian bach 1685. He hears different nuances and colors than he did as a young man.
Samuel feinbergs well tempered clavier bach cantata. To be sure, schiff does not always surpass his younger self. Samuel feinberg and i have had some trouble getting together. Bachs welltempered clavier thursday, september 07, 2017 royal albert hall, london written by peter reed. The staccato treatment of the aflat major fugue, no. Bachs welltempered clavier for london in the mid1980s, but the passage of time, personal reflection, and improvements in digital recording have contributed to making his second recording of the 48 a necessity, this time on ecm new series. In a programme note, interviews, and successfully in performance, schiff has urged a rethinking of the welltempered clavier in terms of colours. What is the significance of the welltempered clavier. The clavichord, the harpsichord, the organ, the pedalharpsichord. The first volume is what harpsichordist luc beausejour has recorded here and what a solid performance it is.
In bachs time clavier was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding an organ either the modern german spelling for the collection is. The well tempered clavier, book ii by andras schiff. Bachs welltempered clavier indepth analysis and interpretation siglind bruhn. It is not just one of the immortal masterpieces of the world music literature.
Welltempered clavier the, book 2 landowska 19511954 wanda landowska, who continued to perform and record up to her death in 1959, was renowned as the greatest harpsichordist of the first half of the twentieth century. The well tempered clavier, book ii to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. Book 1, part 1 the open well tempered clavier sheet music. In addition to being outstanding pianists, each has recorded bachs well tempered. Well, i couldnt let that pass, even though its been, four years since it was issued. He gave the title to a book of preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys, dated 1722, composed for the profit and use of musical youth desirous of learning, and especially for the. The welltempered clavier, book 2 glenn gould on allmusic 1993. Book 1 contains the more popular preludes and fugues. Theres even one by yours truly of a 36cd brilliant classics collection containing the complete scarlatti keyboard sonatas. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, is a collection of two sets of preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys, composed for solo keyboard by johann sebastian bach. Bachs monumental collection of 48 preludes and fugues better known as the well tempered clavier was issued in two volumes. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Bach later wrote a further twentyfour preludes and fugues and so the fortyeight preludes and fugues eventually became collectively known as the welltempered clavier parts 1 and 2. The welltempered clavier, book 2 classical music album play streams in full or download mp3 from classical archives, the largest and.
Till fellner records bachs well tempered clavier book i. The welltempered clavier, book 2 classical archives. Deceptive cadence the pianist has such an intimate relationship with the welltempered clavier, hearing him play its kaleidoscopic preludes and. Bachs keyboard music on the modern piano, pianists are confronted with various fundamental questions. The welltempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the welltempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. Bachs welltempered clavier which collection to buy. Johann sebastian bach 16851750 written in 1722, publicated in 1801. Notable performances there are lots of recordings of the well tempered clavier available, and one can find them easily either through itunes and amazon, or in the more specialist eshops, such as presto one can find even rare records, such as giesekings or pollinis recordings of the well tempered clavier.
The welltempered clavier is a collection of two books of keyboard music. The preludes and fugues that make up bachs welltempered clavier operate on multiple levels at once theyre a compilation of techniques for. A brief and general discussion about how to approach interpretation, particularly with respect to the aspect of historically correct performance, is contained here. Print and download in pdf or midi the open well tempered clavier. Download a free and public domain recording and musical score. The book 2 b flat major preludes newly calibrated linear profile misses the earlier traversals suppleness and humour. Book ii of her recording of bachs welltempered clavier was made between 1951 and 1954 at her home in lakeville.
This section provides some practical insights into how to approach js bach s well tempered clavier, and how to elevate and refine ones performance. S bach welltempered clavier for the piano book i pf. Bachs welltempered clavier book 2 interpreted by s d. Aug 10, 2012 andras schiff on the recording of bachs the welltempered clavier. At some point i decided to order it, but that turned out to be a difficult proposition. Jandos recordings of bachs welltempered clavier rank among his very bestbrilliant, sensitive, giving all the inner voices of the music full play.
Over time, schiff says that this music that his relationship with this music that he performs every morning has changed slightly. The welltempered clavier was the title given to the book of twentyfour preludes and fugues in all the major and minor keys, which was composed and compiled during bachs appointment in kothen in 1722. Johann sebastian bach the welltempered clavier ii andras schiff. The well tempered clavier, book 2 by bach andras schiff format.
He first gave the title to a book of preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys, dated 1722, composed for the profit and use of musical youth desirous of learning. Prelude i in c major, bwv 846 well tempered clavier. Book two of the well tempered clavier dates from 173842 some 20 years after book one and was assembled from both newly composed pieces and various existing preludes and fugues going back a number of years. Book two of the welltempered clavier dates from 173842 some 20 years after book one and was assembled from both newly composed pieces and various existing preludes and fugues going back a number of years.
Bach, the welltempered clavier, book 1 sviatoslav richter. Which book of bachs well tempered clavier is easier. The first book was completed by 1722 with the second from around 174243. Sokolovs bach is certainly right up there though i must confess, its recently become a bit overbearing. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. The only time he uses the sustain pedal is on one of the fugues that is impossible to play without the pedal a minor fugue, book 2, written for organ. Sep 19, 2012 andras schiff has recorded the 48 preludes and fugues that make up the welltempered clavier before, in the mid80s as part of his complete survey of bachs keyboard music for decca. Please feel free to comment on any notation engraving error complete.
Books i and ii pieterjan belder hpd period instruments brilliant 93892 4 cds. The result feels more like an evolution than a rejection of his youthful preoccupations. Recorded in copenhagen 1995 878886, birmingham 1997 887891 and helsinki 1997 892, 893. Johann sebastian bach composed the piece prelude and fugue, for keyboard no. He plays bach on the piano with no pedal, which is how i prefer my bach to sound. Eminent bachspecialist sir andras schiff here performs book i.
When was j s bachs the well tempered clavier written. The well tempered clavier is two books of music for solo keyboard by js bach, the first written in 1722, and the second twenty years later in 1742. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. Sep 07, 2017 the two volumes of bachs the welltempered clavier together represent a wealth of musical invention, ingenuity and delight. This set, along with its companion set of the book i, has often been in my cd player. It explores the intricacies of each of the 12 major and 12 minor keys and constitutes the largestscale and mostinfluential undertaking for. Bach, andras schiff the welltempered clavier, book. Andras schiff recorded most of bachs keyboard works in the 1980s, and has recently made a number of new recordings for ecm. Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. Bachs welltempered clavier book 2 interpreted by s d rodrian addeddate 20051009 18. As you watch, youll see that bach uses stretto more and more, which heightens the tension of the piece.
Andras schiff master class bach wtc book 2 f major prelude duration. An aggregation of elwisws and youngpossums uploads. Andras schiff and the bach project the washington post. If youre a devotee of a particular pianist in this repertoiregould, schiff, richter, kempff, etc. These preludefugue pairs cycle through all 24 possible major and minor tona. Preludes and fugues through all tones and semitones name translations. Jan 16, 20 andras schiffs welltempered guide to bach. Like thinkgreenlovepiano already said, i think all of them are very enjoyable to listen to, but some suggestions for the first book. Im looking at purchasing a cd of the wtc book 1 and maybe 2. The well tempered clavier, book ii andras schiff on allmusic 1986. Customers and visitors can download classical music in high quality flac or mp3 and find out more about classical music.
Over the intervening years, schiff has made new recordings of the major bach keyboard works for his current label, ecm, culminating in a new release of the welltempered clavier this fall. The well tempered clavier consists in its entirety of two books, each of 24 preludes and fugues, in which there is one for each major and minor key. From all the works written in the baroque era, no other work has been so wellcherished, frequently performed and. Schiffs progression from the white innocence of c major to the black chromaticism and schoenbergian labyrinth of b minor makes good sense particularly in drawing the comparison between the final. Schiff threw away his dreary workbooks and began playing bachs preludes and fugues from the welltempered clavier instead. Id buy book 2, learn these, and then go back to book 1. One of the greatest bach recordings ive ever heard. Ranking of difficulty of well tempered clavier preludes. Each book contains 24 relatively free, improvisatory preludes, each of which precedes a fugue. All these years later i have finally purchased book two, featuring mr. Johann sebastian bach welltempered clavier, book 1, bwv846.
Reservations aside, schiff remains a stimulating bach pianist. Nov 25, 20 schiff imbued the welltempered claviers 24 preludes and fugues with a formidable sense of direction, writes martin kettle. Piano sheet music book by johann sebastian bach 16851750. Most readers have likely heard of glenn gould, edwin fischer, sviatoslav richter, rosalyn tureck, andras schiff, angela hewitt, samuel feinberg, and friedrich gulda. Yo tomitas various very resourceful webspaces on the welltempered clavier are always worth the time see here on book 1, here on the sources of book 2, and a selection of midi files can be found here siglind bruhns website on analysis and interpretation of the welltempered clavier is very detailed and substantive see also above. I would appreciate any info on ranking of the difficulty of the preludes in the well tempered clavier. Beausejour plays in a refreshingly straightforward manner with no silly antics or turbo. In bachs time clavier keyboard was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding an. Sir andras schiff is heralded as one of the finest bach interpreters today, and this first complete performance at the prestigious bbc proms. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Johann sebastian bachs cycle of preludes and fugues, the welltempered clavier, holds a very special place in the world of music. The welltempered clavier, book ii 1740 complete recording by breemer, c. His new welltempered clavier reveals many instances of interpretative refinements and rethinking.
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