If it’s possible, the first composition on this CD is even more recognized (and loved) than the Brandenburg Concertos. It’s so Bach, so Baroque. I know. I know. I’m making a big claim. But listen to it and you’ll see what I mean. I refer, of course, to Italian Concerto in F major (BWV 971), […]
Entries Tagged as 'Bach at 35'
Day Thirty Three: Italian Concerto/French Overture (CD 2-10)
August 29th, 2011 · 3 Comments · 1720, 1735, Bach at 35, Bach at 50, BWV 831, BWV 903, BWV 971, CD 2-10, French Overture, Glenn Gould, Harpsichord, Italian Concerto, Italian Concerto in F major Allegro, John William Waterhouse, Miranda the Tempest, Pieter-Jan Belder
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Day Eighteen: Viola da Gamba Sonatas (CD 1-18)
August 14th, 2011 · 1 Comment · 1708, 1720, 1721, Bach at 23, Bach at 35, Bach at 36, BWV 1027, BWV 1028, BWV 1029, BWV 894, CD 1-18, John Dornenburg, Malcom Proud, Viola da Gamba
Huh? What’s a Viola da Gamba Sonata? This is another example of why I enjoy taking these musical excursions. I learn something new every day. According to a Wiki page, viola da Gamba is Italian for viol of leg: A viol, usually much larger than the violin, played while seated and supported between the legs. […]
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Day Seventeen: Lute Works, Part Two (CD 1-17)
August 13th, 2011 · No Comments · 1720, 1725, 1740, Bach at 35, Bach at 40, Bach at 55, BWV 1000, BWV 1006a, BWV 998, BWV 999, CD 1-17, Jakob Lindberg, Lute, Lute Works, Suite in E major Gavotte en rondeau
This CD is amazing. It, and the one preceding it, are wonders to behold. The Lute — especially as played with such feeling and precision as Jakob Lindberg demonstrates — is a marvelous instrument. It looks to be difficult to master. And it may be. But those who do scale its heights reward those who […]
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Day Thirteen: Cello Suites 2-4-6 (CD 1-13)
August 9th, 2011 · No Comments · 1720, Bach at 35, BWV 1008, BWV 1010, BWV 1012, CD 1-13, Cello Suites 2-4-6, David Starkweather, Enrico Caruso, Jenny Lind, Josephine van Lier, Pablo Casals
I love reading reviews on Amazon. Some are to be taken extremely seriously. Some are so incoherent that they’d be laughable if they were meant to be a joke. I also love discovering rare, hard-to-find music. Today’s music certainly qualifies. You’ll see why in a moment. One of the reviews that fall into the former […]
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Day Twelve: Cello Suites 1-3-5 (CD 1-12)
August 8th, 2011 · No Comments · 1720, Bach at 35, Bass Guitar, BWV 1007, BWV 1009, BWV 1011, CD 1-12, Cello Suites 1-3-5, Classical Guitar, Jaap Ter Linden, Martin Motnik, Segovia
There’s a world of difference between these Cello Suites and the previous two CDs of Violin solos. Although both are stringed instruments, for some weird reason my ears can take — even completely enjoy — listening to the cello play for an hour or two…whereas the solo violin left me cold after the first half […]
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Day Eleven: Sonate E Partite II (CD 1-11)
August 7th, 2011 · No Comments · 1735, Bach at 35, BWV 1004, BWV 1005, BWV 1006, Gavotte & Rondeau, Mark Lubotsky, Partita No. 3 in E major, Sonate E Partite II, Violins, Yngwie Malmsteen
I really don’t have anything different to say about these compositions, which are sonatas and partitas for solo violin, from what I wrote yesterday. I can say that of the three pieces on this CD, my favorite is Partita No. 3 in E major (BWV 1006). It begins (“Preludio”) with a bouncy, clever movement that […]
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Day 10: Sonate E Partite (CD 1-10)
August 6th, 2011 · No Comments · 1720, Bach at 35, BWV 1001, BWV 1002, BWV 1003, CD 1-10, Mark Lubotsky, Partita, Sonate E Partite I, Violins, Yngwie Malmsteen
I’ll bet violinists love this stuff. Compositions for solo violin give musicians a chance to shine. And shine. And shine. There’s a Swedish heavy-metal guitarist named Yngwie Malmsteen who plays like the soloist (Mark Lubotsky) does on this CD — fast, bobbing and weaving, flowing in and around a melody, with so many notes that […]
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