For this recording of book i, fellner performs the 24 preludes and fugues with a rich and full sound, yet with the refinement and fastidious control required in these comprehensive studies of baroque keyboard. At the moment, this new set by schiff is my favorite. 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. This new recording, and score, were made possible by kimiko ishizaka, musescore, and over 900 fans who supported the project. An astonishing demonstration of bachs mature understanding of the compositional techniques and. Bach well tempered clavier book 1 fellner ecm 18534. Customers and visitors can download classical music in high quality flac or mp3 and find out more about classical music. Print and download in pdf or midi the open well tempered clavier. Book 2 repeats the plan of book 1, so if your troubles are related to the keys, you wont find relief there. Bach well tempered clavier roger woodward 199225 dc. Book 1, part 1 the open well tempered clavier sheet music. Johann sebastian bach 16851750 the welltempered clavier, book i, bwv 846869 cd 1 bwv 846857 59.
But, in fact, theyre not and the simple reason for it is that richters performances sound like they were taped in a drafty castle in austria using a. His playing is delicate, wellinformed without falling into the hip category, and an overall joy to listen to. Book 1, bwv 846869 fugue in b minor bwv 869 till fellner bach. Such is the music in book ii of the welltempered clavier, and. The welltempered clavier book ii, bwv 870893 arthur loesser, piano the master tapes for this recording were made in mr. 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. Please feel free to comment on any notation engraving error complete. Like thinkgreenlovepiano already said, i think all of them are very enjoyable to listen to, but some suggestions for the first book. And i dont want to make the impression that i found the silver bullet to this topic. Composed about 20 years apart, the two sets of 24 preludes and fugues that constitute the two books of johann sebastian bachs welltempered clavier didnt start off as one huge collection of 48 works in fact, the set of 24 preludes and fugues composed in 1742 were not issued as a sequel to the original wtc of 1722. As you watch, youll see that bach uses stretto more and more, which heightens the tension of the piece. Now, fresh from her bach world tourin which she performed the complete welltempered clavier from august 2007 until the end of october 2008 in 58 cities in 21 countries on six.
F ellner s bach is enviably supple, and totally without mannerism. Any list of great bach recordings is, of course, going to be subjective, but we. The welltempered, softspoken clavier anthony tommasini, new york. With its magnificent and magisterial performances by sviatoslav richter, one would have imagined that this 1970 recording of the first book of bachs welltempered clavier would be on the shelf of everyone who reveres richter and worships bach. He won first prize in the clara haskil international piano competition in vevey, switzerland in 1993, and was awarded the mozartinterpretationspreis of the mozartgemeinde wien in 1998. The open welltempered clavier an essential musical masterpiece, full of joy, pain, and passion, j. Bachs notation leaves the music open to various interpretations. 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. Johann sebastian bach bwv 846869 welltempered clavier i piano 1722. Most readers have likely heard of glenn gould, edwin fischer, sviatoslav richter, rosalyn tureck, andras schiff, angela hewitt, samuel feinberg, and friedrich gulda. One can learn the entirety of both welltempered clavier books in a year, i would estimate, but it would take a lifetime to master. Bach s well tempered clavier to critical acclaim across europe, and has made it the backbone of his recital repertoire.
Samuil feinberg, tatiana nikolayeva, sviatoslav richter all different styles, all worth listening to intellectual. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. Overall, i wouldnt say that one of the books is easier than the other, because they both cover a. If you are a beginner or an advanced player, the question which score to use is always an important topic. Welltempered clavier book i, bwv 846869 till fellner piano. Which book of bachs well tempered clavier is easier. What are some good recordings of the welltempered clavier. Weve begun with the well tempered clavier the prelude and fugue in cminor from book 1. In addition to being outstanding pianists, each has recorded bach s well tempered clavier and received great praise. It was followed shortly afterwards by book ii which was similarly received.
A note on practicing js bachs welltempered clavier. I have lately been under the spell of till fellners bach playing on the ecm label, and look forward to adding book ii to his warmly expressive recording of book i. For most arrangements, see the separate pages for the individual preludes and fugues. Deceptive cadence the pianist has such an intimate relationship with the welltempered clavier, hearing him play its kaleidoscopic preludes and. Loessers studio at the cleveland institute of music in 1964 by kenneth hamann. The welltempered, softspoken clavier the new york times.
Bwv867 bwv869 svistoslav richter, piano july 1970 prelude and fugue no. I also own schiffs earlier set on decca from the 80s. I first encountered the young austrian pianist till fellner two years ago at the risor festival. Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. Boek maken downloaden als pdf printvriendelijke versie.
Heres an organ chorale with similar music to 890, all about angels, pastoral, bwv 607 from orgelbuchlein. The first instance to look at, which is also the most authoritative one, is to study the composers original manuscripts. His unflinching legato playing is never overbearing. Welltempered clavier book i, bwv 846869 played by till. Till fellner records bach s well tempered clavier book i. The welltempered clavier, or preludes and fugues through all tones and semitones, relating to the major third, that is, ut re mi, as well as those related to the minor third, that is, re mi fa. The preludes are from the open welltempered clavier project, and were made using musescore software. Ten years ago angela hewitt recorded a version of the welltempered clavier book i which dazzled the critical world and recordbuying public. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j.
In addition to being outstanding pianists, each has recorded bachs well tempered clavier and received great praise. The wtc was written for the harpsichord, but is now mostly performed on its successor, the piano. The fugues are from kyle rothers lillypond engraving. He plays bach on the piano with no pedal, which is how i prefer my bach to sound. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the enter key is pressed. In theory, the preludes and fugues of the wtc are just as eligible for transcribing as the goldberg variations and the art of the fugue have been. One of the 48 pieces is dedicated to someone or something you love or honor. Glenn gould, friedrich gulda more balanced, modern approach. Johann sebastian bach 16851750 well tempered clavier. In july and august of 1973 sviatoslav richter played bachs welltempered clavier over the course of four concerts in innsbruck big boxes.
Bachs welltempered clavier to critical acclaim across europe, and has made it the backbone of his recital repertoire. Bachs welltempered clavier is now available on cd, and for download. Sindsdien werd till fellner uitgenodigd bij talrijke gerenommeerde orkesten en. I will keep this topic brief, as i assume that everybody has hisher own learning and practicing patterns and techniques, which have a history for each individual. Bachs welltempered clavier which collection to buy. Unless youre angela hewitt or glenn gould i would recommend mastering only a select few preludes and fugues rather than being okay. Youthful viennese pianist till fellner has performed j. Till fellner has premiered works by kit armstrong, harrison birtwistle, thomas larcher, alexander stankovski and hans zender. It explores the intricacies of each of the 12 major and 12 minor keys and constitutes the largestscale and most. For this 2017 living archive release, the borromeo string quartet presents book i of johann sebastian bachs welltempered clavier in arrangements for string quartet by first violinist nicholas kitchen, though the project has yielded mixed results.
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