You can call me Johann. But don't expect me to answer to that.
If you’re expecting me to get through today’s listening without mentioning Glenn Gould, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. For today’s Brilliant Classics CD (performed by Pieter-Jan Belder on Flemish harpsichord) is none other than the famous Goldberg Variations, which was Glenn Gould’s first album, recorded in 1955 for Columbia Records. But that’s another story. […]
Entries Tagged as 'Glenn Gould'
Day Thirty Four: Goldberg Variations (CD 2-11)
August 30th, 2011 · No Comments · 1741, Bach at 56, BWV 988, Flemish harpsichord, Glenn Gould, Goldberg Variations, Harpsichord, Period Instruments, Pieter-Jan Belder
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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
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), […]
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Day Thirty One: Keyboard Works, Part Two (CD 2-8)
August 27th, 2011 · No Comments · BWV 822, BWV 923, BWV 946, BWV 949, BWV 951, BWV 951a, BWV 959, BWV 966, BWV 967, BWV 993, CD 2-8, Christiane Wuyts, Glenn Gould, Henri Hemsch, Jacques Goermans, Keyboard Works Part Two, Leonard Bernstein, Yngwie Malmsteen
Another CD of very old, miscellaneous Bach compositions, once again performed by Christiane Wuyts, a Belgium-born harpsichord known particularly for her performances of Bach’s music, as well as for her use of period instruments. The two harpsichords she’s playing on this CD were made by Henri Hemsch (1754) and Jacques Goermans (1774). BWV 923 (“Praeludium […]
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Day Twenty Eight: Six Partitas, Part One (CD 2-5)
August 24th, 2011 · No Comments · 1726, Bach at 41, BWV 825, BWV 826, BWV 830, CD 2-5, Glenn Gould, Harpsichord, Pieter-Jan Belder, Six Partitas Part One
If I have one complaint regarding the Brilliant Classics Complete Bach edition it’s this: Too much harpsichord! Or, to put it another way, this edition relies too much on period instruments. Would it have killed anyone to use a contemporary piano to perform The Well-Tempered Clavier? Or the Six Partitas? Unless one is a music […]
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Day Twenty Five: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I (CD 2-2)
August 21st, 2011 · No Comments · 1722, Bach at 37, BWV 846-870, CD 2-2, Glenn Gould, Harpsichord, Praeludium, Prelude & Fugue No. 15 in G major, Prelude & Fugue No. 21 in B flat major, Well-Tempered Clavier
Although this is fine music, well played by Leon Berben, I’m just not diggin’ it. Don’t get me wrong. It’s clever music. I like the Fuga pieces from each composition as they twist and turn and tie knots around the theme. However, overall, I prefer the Preludes & Fugues on the first CD of The […]
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Day Twenty Four: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I (CD 2-1)
August 20th, 2011 · No Comments · 1722, Bach at 37, BWV 846-870, CD 2-1, Glenn Gould, Harpsichord, Leon Berben, Prelude & Fugue No. 1 in C major, Well-Tempered Clavier
Harpsichord. An entire CD’s worth of harpsichord. I’m back to the “Pedal Steel Greats” CD I joked about a week or so ago. For the first 10 minutes (okay, maybe five), this is okay music. But after 30, 40, 50 minutes, the harpsichord sounds like an assortment of trash can lids banging together. It loses […]
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