BaL 14.06.14 - Rameau: Pièces de Clavecin

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30am
Building a Library: Nicholas Kenyon surveys recordings of Rameau's highly inventive and characterful keyboard works, his Pieces de clavecin and makes a personal recommendation.


Some available versions and selections:

Tzimon Barto
Olivier Baumont
Luc Beausejour, etc.
Jan-Pieter Belder
Boston Museum Trio (download)
Viviane Chassot (accordion)
Jill Crossland (piano)
Alan Cuckston, etc. (download)
Therese Dussault (piano)
Jean-Pierre Ferey (piano) (download)
Ensemble Masques, Oliver Fortin
Celine Frisch
Kenneth Gilbert
Stephen Gutman (piano)
Aapo Hakkinen, etc
Elji Hashimoto (download)
Angela Hewitt (piano)
Jose Iturbi (DVD)
James Johnstone, etc. (download)
Wilhelm Kempff (piano)
John Kitchen
Robert Kohnen, etc
Gustav Leonhardt etc
London Baroque
Georeg Malcolm
Montagnana Trio
Music’s Re-Creation
Trevor Pinnock
Trevor Pinnock etc.
Annamari Polho (download)
Bruno Procopio
Denys Proshayev (piano)
Blandine Rannou
Scott Ross
Christophe Rousset
Gilbert Rowland
Lieselotte Seibiger
Skip Sempé
Noëlle Spieth
Alexandre Tharaud (piano)
Les Timbres
Susan Toman (download)
Minako Tsuruta (download)
Jory Vinikour
Sophie Yates

[LeMartinPecheur]

That should be well worth a listen - superb pieces!

I have a complete(?) 2-CD set by Pinnock (CRD) but I don't think it's fully up to the job. If wanting to show off these pieces I'd turn to a random bargain-bin purchase on the Tring label - Virginia Black doing three suites, the 1706 A Minor, E minor and D minor/major. This AFAIK had limited circulation and isn't easy to find even s/h. If she ever did a companion disc I've never seen it

[Bryn]

If they are including downloads, I would expect Christophe Rousset to top the list. How Decca/Universal have let it drop from the CD catalogue defeats me.

I do rather like "Piecea de Clavicon", but I think it might be wise to correct it.

[Ed: Just in case anyone wonders what the last sentence means - I corrected it, thank you. ff]

[richardfinegold]

If they are including downloads, I would expect Christophe Rousset to top the list. How Decca/Universal have let it drop from the CD catalogue defeats me.

I do rather like "Piecea de Clavicon", but I think it might be wise to correct it.

to Rousset

[CallMePaul]

In the past, when a Baroque keyboard work has been reviewed in BaL, the reviewer's brief has been to include a piano as well as a harpsichord recommendation. I have never been convinced by anyone playing the French clavecinistes on the modern piano and I hope that Sir Nick has not been told to include a piano version for the sake of it even if he feels that none do justice to Rameau's writing. I know that it is an oft-repeated cliché, but I am sure that all composers who wrote for the harpsichord would have written differently had they the dynamic range and different effects of the piano. A work such as Bach's Italian Concerto never sounds right on the piano to my ears,because the piano cannot reproduce the contrasts in registration that a 2-manual harpsichord can.

[richardfinegold]

In the past, when a Baroque keyboard work has been reviewed in BaL, the reviewer's brief has been to include a piano as well as a harpsichord recommendation. I have never been convinced by anyone playing the French clavecinistes on the modern piano and I hope that Sir Nick has not been told to include a piano version for the sake of it even if he feels that none do justice to Rameau's writing. I know that it is an oft-repeated cliché, but I am sure that all composers who wrote for the harpsichord would have written differently had they the dynamic range and different effects of the piano. A work such as Bach's Italian Concerto never sounds right on the piano to my ears,because the piano cannot reproduce the contrasts in registration that a 2-manual harpsichord can.

I happen to greatly enjoy Bach played on the Piano. With respect tot he Rameau work at hand here, the first recordings that I heard were harpsichord and the Piano version that I own (Angela Hewitt) still sounds "funny" to me.

[Don Petter]

I would expect Kenneth Gilbert to be high up the list. Is his recording currently available?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

to Rousset

Seconded (or should that be "thirded"?) Back in 2003 () Rousset, Terakado & Uemura were top choice for the Pieces de Clavecin en Concerts on BaL - a disc that has become one of the most frequently played (and enjoyed!) in my collection.

[MickyD]

I'm thrilled that these wonderful works are to get their own BAL! I'd go along with those advocating Rousset - as Bryn says, it is unthinkable that Decca no longer have his version in the catalogue. His recording won a Gramophone award at the time. Similarly the Kenneth Gilbert version has long been deleted... I used to have the set on LP and it featured some fine historic instruments.

Having recently discovered and admired Sophie Yates in the Handel suites, I'd be interested to hear her version for Chandos. She is a brilliant harpsichordist and Chandos give her lovely, warm and resonant recordings.

[LeMartinPecheur]

This month's BBC MM reviews two new CDs - one of three suites on harpsichord by Steven Devine (10 stars) and one on piano (2 suites, concerto No 5 and odd bits) by Stephen Gutman (drops just one star, for recording).

Hope they got into NK's pile!

[Rolmill]

Seconded (or should that be "thirded"?) Back in 2003 () Rousset, Terakado & Uemura were top choice for the Pieces de Clavecin en Concerts on BaL - a disc that has become one of the most frequently played (and enjoyed!) in my collection.

Tantalisingly, a "taster" from that set is included on the first CD of the big HM "Lumieres" box. I have listened to a few of the discs, but not that one yet - must do so before the BAL.

[MickyD]

As for the Pièces de Claveçin en Concert, my preference is for the Kuijkens on Accent.

[Nick Armstrong]

to Rousset

here too. I have the nice L'Oiseau-Lyre box and don't anticipate any burning need to change...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Tantalisingly, a "taster" from that set is included on the first CD of the big HM "Lumieres" box. I have listened to a few of the discs, but not that one yet - must do so before the BAL.

No rush, Roly - the BaL next week is of the Keyboard-only Pieces. But that disc is really special - as are most in the Lumieres box: I've just played the disc with the Pleyel 'cello Concerto - what an astonishing work!

MickyD - I'm a great Kuijken admirer; but didn't know about his en Concerts recording. The superb Rousset et al disc has been alone on the shelf for eleven years: about time I got it a mate!

[MickyD]

Yes, ferney, do get hold of it...a lovely recording, the Kuijkens do the works proud, as you would have expected. Here it is:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pieces-Clavecin-Concert-Jean-Philippe-Rameau/dp/B00000443G/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1402167733&sr=1-3&keywords=rameau+kuijken