As ledbetter writes in more in detail, there is no singled out keyboard instrument of the baroque age that js bach had in mind when he wrote the well tempered clavier. Glen wilson is an exceptional bach harpsichordist whose well tempered clavier is available on teldec best harpsichord version on the market. Johann sebastian bach s idea of composing a collection of preludes and fugues in all major and minor keys was new and revolutionary in the second decade of the 18th century, particularly when considering that the tuning in use up top then distributed pure and impure intervals irregularly. Johann sebastian bach was a noted german composer, keyboardist, and violinist. Rarely have bach s fugues sounded so dancelike, light and fleet, especially the great eflat prelude and fugue bwv 552 or the prelude no. By contrast, watchorns detailed writings extol this tuning, which he uses throughout the recording, and lehman here also provides a full account of how bachs calligraphic swirls to the titlepage of the welltempered clavier, book 1, could be an encryption for a correct and pure temperament. Book one of the well tempered clavier is performed on the piano while book two is performed on the harpsichord. Kenneth weiss, harpsichord my catalogue has been updated november 3 2019 with direct links. Learn about welltempered clavier by js bach from the baroque era. His works such as the brandenburg concertos are known for their technical depth and artistic beauty. Well, i couldnt let that pass, even though its been, four years since it was issued. Welltempered clavier book ii bwv 870893 bach cantatas website.
Bach s well tempered clavier is one of the cornerstones of western classical music. Welltempered clavier book ii bwv 870893 discography. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. The barenreiter welltempered clavier is masterpiece of keyboard literature, a unique urtext edition reproducing the musical text of the new bach edition. Bachs choice of instruments while working on this collection has been. Bach never specified a particular type and, though the piano, even in the earliest stages of its development, was unknown when he prepared his fair copy of book 1 c1722, pianists have subsequently taken these wonderful pieces to heart. Complete works for harpsichord by martin galling now. The most typical ones included a clavichord, harpsichord, and other organs. Bachs welltempered clavier is the common property of all keyboard instruments. Js bach was open to use many different forms of keyboards and he equally enjoyed playing the organ, harpsichord, clavichord, lautenclavicymbel lutekeyboard, e. Complete works for harpsichord by martin galling on. Book 2 of johann sebastian bach s the well tempered clavier features revisions by bruno mugellini as well as annotations in english french italian and german. If my reaction to book i was tepid, it was more than thawed by my enthusiasm for book ii. Bach for solo harpsichord early music oxford academic.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to. The clavichord, the harpsichord, the organ, the pedal harpsichord. This 2 cd set completes the superbargainprice reissue of bob van asperens recording of the complete well tempered clavier, book i having already been reissued on 3 49963 2. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846 893, 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. This invaluable guide to the 96 pieces explains bach s various purposes in compiling the music, describes the rich traditions on which he drew, and provides commentaries for each. Short octave keyboards eliminated bass notes for which there was little use. The clavichord, the harpsichord, the organ, the pedalharpsichord. Fischer at times resorts to a hushed, almost mystical style of playing when he takes on a particularly lyrical bach piece. Well tempered clavier flashcards and study sets quizlet. In the world of johann sebastian bach, as in the world of this magazine, the word clavier implies any keyboard instrument. Four different instruments are used for this set, and the saintetienne organ on cd 3. Bach wrote 48 preludes and fugues in the two welltempered clavier books. Which keyboard to use as ledbetter writes in more in detail, there is no singled out keyboard instrument of the baroque age that js bach had in mind when he wrote the welltempered clavier.
The first thing to say is you may want to get yourself a well tempered clavier played on a clavier which is well tempered. Bach and the clavier by joan benson clavier, volume 29, no. After some 30 years of practice and experiments with various kinds of keyboards, i finally ended up to prefer using organ sounds in order to interpret bach s keyboard music, especially the well tempered clavier. Johann sebastian bachs well tempered clavier posts facebook. Some 20 years later bach compiled a second book of the same kind, which became known as the well tempered clavier. Bach welltempered clavier book 2 virgin veritas 3857952. With his first recording of the well tempered clavier book 1 pinnock explores the summit of bach s intellectual and contrapuntal mastery my journey with the well tempered clavier. This invaluable guide to the 96 pieces explains bachs various purposes in compiling the music, describes the rich traditions on which he drew. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. Bachs welltempered clavier or the 48 preludes and fugues stands at the core of baroque keyboard music and has been a model and inspiration for performers and composers ever since it was written. This set, along with its companion set of the book i, has often been in my cd player. Learn about the well tempered clavier by baroque german composer, j. Until this weekend, most versions id heard of the well tempered clavier were played on piano glenn gould and others and, correct me if im wrong, but i believe ralph kirkpatrick played a nonpedal harpsichord.
Keyboard works klavierwerke by johann sebastian bach traditionally refers to the nos. Edited and annotated by richard jones with ommentaries by donald francis tovey. Art of the fugue and the musical offering homophony is a single melody with chords he enjoyed writing complex polyphonic, contrapuntal works such as fugues. Book 2 of johann sebastian bach s the welltempered clavier features revisions by bruno mugellini as well as annotations in english french italian and german. Preludes and fugues through all tones and semitones name translations. In bach s time clavier keyboard was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding. The well tempered 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.
With his first recording of the well tempered clavier book 1 pinnock explores the summit of bach s intellectual and contrapuntal mastery my journey with the well tempered clavier has been life long. In bachs time clavier keyboard was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord. Bach himself played on the widely contrasting claviers popular in his day. For this listener his piano keyboard bach is more interesting than his harpsichord bach and im not at all certain why he elected to change instruments. Here are a few interesting points about how famous composers about this piece of work. Beethoven used to practice the well tempered clavier in all scales. Bachs welltempered clavier is one of the cornerstones of western classical music. The third thing to say is that there are many different types of harpsichord, including ones which sound like lute. From all the works written in the baroque era, no other work has been so well cherished, frequently performed and thoroughly studied than this work of bach s. But the jacket and packaging state the artist is playing a specially tuned harpsichord. He was born on or near march 21 1685 and died on july 28, 1750. With thematic index and introductory text does not include words to the songs. Bachs famous welltempered clavier, recorded for the first time on organ. Jan 24, 2020 rarely have bachs fugues sounded so dancelike, light, and fleet, especially the great eflat prelude and fugue bwv 552 or the prelude no.
S well tempered 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, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. The well tempered clavier, book 2 classical music album play streams in full or download mp3 from classical archives, the largest and best organized classical music site on the web. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Weve come to enjoy bach s well tempered clavier as something of a personal delight, the intimate onetoone of a performer on piano or harpsichord as frequently encountered if not more so than a recording which seems intended to fill a large concert. Till fellner records bachs well tempered clavier book i. Best harpsichord recording of bach s well tempered clavier book 1 welcome to talk classical a community covering every aspect of classical music. A harpsichord is not a piano, but bach s music remains the same. It explores the intricacies of each of the 12 major and 12 minor keys and constitutes the largestscale and mostinfluential undertaking for solo keyboard of the baroque era. The well tempered clavier is a work in two volumes. The well tempered clavier by bach david piano play it. Keyboard and lute works is the topic of the fifth series of the new bach edition. The welltempered clavier book 1 by johann sebastian bach, luc beausejour from amazons classical music store. Best harpsichord recording of bachs welltempered clavier book 1.
As an aside, i have a humorous anecdote revolving around bach. Bach s the well tempered clavier and many more listen to the harpsichord classics playlist with amazon music unlimited. At any rate, the sound of the pedal harpsichord on isolde ahlgrimms version has been a real revelation. He is known for instrumental compositions such as the brandenburg concertos and the goldberg variations, and for vocal music such as the st matthew passion and the mass in b minor. Bach well tempered clavier book ii prelude and fugue no. Jul 07, 2017 our new desktop experience was built to be your music destination. Christine schornsheim, one of the most eminent specialists of historic keyboard instruments, performs j. The welltempered consort i by phantasm on apple music.
Bach s well tempered clavier was recently covered by a new website, created by tim smith, who teaches composition at the northern arizona university and is in charge of the bach digital project under the umbrella of the oregon bach festival. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. The clavichord also happens to have been bachs favorite instrument and is a revelation for anyone. The clavichord, largely overlooked so far in periodinstrument bach. S bachs welltempered clavier on the ruckersharpsichord in colmar. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. Best harpsichord recording of bachs welltempered clavier. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Blandine verlet plays a beautiful harpsichord built in 1624 by hans ruckers ii, one of a flemish family whose instruments were the most highly regarded throughout europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. Here is some info on range i found in a paper by richard loucks. In fact, that instrument is only used on part one of the wtc, book ii. Among the renowned performers who have recorded the welltempered clavier on piano are edwin fischer, rosalyn tureck, daniel barenboim, glenn gould, tatiana nikolayeva, vladimir ashkenazy, sviatoslav richter, angela hewitt, and andras schiff. Each volume contains a prelude and fugue in every major a nd minor key, totaling 48 pairs.
Bach s keyboard music on the modern piano, pianists are confronted with various fundamental questions. Download a free and public domain recording and musical score. Download a free and public domain recording and musical. Bachs immortal 48 preludes and fugues in all major and minor keys was written for clavier, and in bachs time that could mean any keyboard instrument. Dec 29, 20 book one of the welltempered clavier is performed on the piano while book two is performed on the harpsichord. A way to hear bach intimately, if barely the new york times. The miracle of bach s music is that you can arrange it for any type or number of instruments, and itll still come out shining. 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 organ either. The audio files in the subsections to this chapter are taken from my recording project of book 1 of the well tempered clavier. Bach wrote for organ and for stringed keyboard instruments such as harpsichord, clavichord and lute harpsichord. Weve come to enjoy bachs welltempered clavier as something of a personal delight, the intimate onetoone of a performer on piano or harpsichord as frequently encountered if not more so than a recording which seems intended to fill a large concert hall.
The well tempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the well tempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. 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. This prelude is played pianissimo and it sounds like the damper pedal is on, with moderate but not overdone use of the sustain pedal. The staff spacing and page layout is perfect and the engraving is very clear. S bach s well tempered clavier on the ruckers harpsichord in colmar. Johann sebastian bach well tempered clavier audio recording. Continue from part 8 donald satz wrote october 15, 2000. Trevor pinnock to release first recording of bachs well. The best recordings of js bachs the welltempered clavier. In bachs time clavier keyboard was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet.
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