So much Bach, where do I start?


I think I could really get into J.S. Bach, but I want to start with music that has characteristics I know I like.
Likes:
up tempo,
percussive/choppy
different voices simultainously playing different melodic lines,
modern recording,
virtuosity (duh)

Dislikes:
harpsicords,
organs (from what little I've heard...no percussive faculty)
quiet music (for the moment)

I've been researching some with Napster and for soloists I like really like Casalas and Segovia, but the recording quality is kind of distracting to me. I also quite like the Double Violin Conerto Viviance (even despite the harpsicord ;) it's the only non-solo music I've found so far) and the piano Fugue stuff.
So, any particular CDs to check out? I need something to compliment my first good stereo system!
grungle

Showing 1 response by jimcrane

I’ll add a bit to @slf’s post a bit. I also enjoy Bach’s works on piano. To slf’s list, I would add the Goldberg Variations, for which there are many excellent recordings. Murray Perahia’s is outstanding, as are his other Bach recordings.

I also greatly enjoy Jeremy Denker’s recordings of the Goldbergs and of the Well-Tempered Clavier.

Sitkovetsky’s arrangement of the Goldbergs for strings is wonderful.

I agree with slf about Jennifer Hewitt being an outstanding Bach interpreter.

Similarly, there are many fine interpretations of the Sonatas and Partitas for Violin on both classical and baroque violins. I’ve enjoyed Nathan Milstein’s set.

The Chaconne from Partita #2 is most famous (and is my favorite piece of music). There are a great many outstanding performances of it. Here is a youtube a 1978 live performance of the entire Partita by Itzhak Perlman in London. The Chaconne begins at 13:50. Not the best audio, of course, but most importantly he takes me from hope to despair and back to hope every time I listen to it. https://youtu.be/qtyTaE7LvVs?si=SD0ELag8iDu4q_jI

Hilary Hahn’s performance when she was 19(!) is a close second.

Have fun!.