Our Summer BAL 87: JS Bach English suites (harpsichord versions)

[Pulcinella]

To complement/supplement the BaL on piano versions of the suites (28.9.24), MickyD has suggested considering the harpsichord versions.

Alessanda Artifoni
Bob van Asperen
Carol Cerasi
Alan Curtis
Huguette Dreyfus
Pascal Dubreuil
Richard Egarr (using a 1991 harpsichord, after a 1638 model, with Egarr’s own temperament)
Lorenzo Ghielmi
Ketil Hausgand (double-manual harpsichord)
Ralph Kirkpatrick
Gustav Leonhardt (R1973/P1974: Seon/Sony, though LPs originally Philips!)
Gustav Leonhardt (1984: Erato/EMI, now Warner)
Elina Mustonen
Anthony Newman
Marie Nishiyama
Blandine Rannou
Christophe Rousset
Zuzana Ruzickova
Masaaki Suzuki
Colin Tilney
Helmut Walcha
Peter Watchorn
Paolo Zanzu

Further details are available in the Presto listing:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/works/45381--bach-j-s-english-suites-nos-1-6-bwv806-811/browse

[MickyD]

Great work! Such a shame the Kenneth Gilbert is out of the catalogue. I'm more than happy with the Egarr, though, so beautifully recorded.

[Pulcinella]

Great work! Such a shame the Kenneth Gilbert is out of the catalogue. I'm more than happy with the Egarr, though, so beautifully recorded.

Are you sure he recorded them?
This 10CD box suggests it's all his JSB, but maybe it was for a different label?

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8049485--js-bach-keyboard-works

[vinteuil]

Are you sure he recorded them?
This 10CD box suggests it's all his JSB, but maybe it was for a different label?

https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...keyboard-works

... yes he did : a two LP set, subsequently on CDs (nla)-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Suites-pour-Anglois-Kenneth-Gilbert/dp/B002UACKKQ

and then in his more complete set (also nla) which I have -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bach-clavecin-anglaises-franc%CC%A7aises-Partitas/dp/B000034D3W

https://www.bach-cantatas.com/NVP/Gilbert.htm#B1

.

[MickyD]

Oh lucky you, Vints! It's been a long time since I've heard those, do they still hold up well? I have his set of the Partitas, which I love.

[Mandryka]

To complement/supplement the BaL on piano versions of the suites (28.9.24), MickyD has suggested considering the harpsichord versions.

Alessanda Artifoni
Bob van Asperen
Carol Cerasi
Pascal Dubreuil
Richard Egarr (using a 1991 harpsichord, after a 1638 model, with Egarr’s own temperament)
Lorenzo Ghielmi
Ketil Hausgand (double-manual harpsichord)
Ralph Kirkpatrick
Gustav Leonhardt
Elina Mustonen
Anthony Newman
Marie Nishiyama
Blandine Rannou
Christophe Rousset
Zuzana Ruzickova
Masaaki Suzuki
Colin Tilney
Helmut Walcha
Peter Watchorn
Paolo Zanzu

Further details are available in the Presto listing:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...806-811/browse

Leonhardt made two recordings, first for Seon and then for EMI. They're different, very different I'd say.

[vinteuil]

.
... also Alan Curtis (in the old '2000' Big Bach Box) and Huguette Dreyfus (in the newer '333' Bigger Bach Box)

[Beresford]

I like the sound of Dubreuil in Bach. He shapes each little figure so well, and "produces a delicate and crisply elegant sound with richly rounded, plum-like trills." (Gramophone). Maybe too elegant at times.

I love the shimmering sound of a harpsichord, especially a big French harpsichord, in music of it's time. Have you ever tried to get a shimmer out of a piano? Whenever my wife hears Bach keyboard music on piano, and it gets to a trill, she shouts out "Don't they realize it was written for a harpsichord!" Same for me when I hear the gamba sonatas played on a cello.

[oliver sudden]

I love the shimmering sound of a harpsichord, especially a big French harpsichord, in music of it's time.

There’s also the little matter of tuning, which can make the expressive power of modulations an extremely personal thing—thinking of Blandine Verlet playing Louis Couperin or especially Froberger…

[Pulcinella]

.
... also Alan Curtis (in the old '2000' Big Bach Box) and Huguette Dreyfus (in the newer '333' Bigger Bach Box)

Thanks: added to listing.

[Pulcinella]

Leonhardt made two recordings, first for Seon and then for EMI. They're different, very different I'd say.

Original listing expanded: thanks.

[MickyD]

It's a great shame that Christopher Hogwood never recorded these, his set of the French suites is very enjoyable indeed to my ears.

[AuntDaisy]

It's a great shame that Christopher Hogwood never recorded these, his set of the French suites is very enjoyable indeed to my ears.

... or Trevor Pinnock (thanks vinteuil)

Enjoying the Hogwood French suites now, thanks for the prompt MickyD.

Sadly, 2 of the 3 Amazon reviews of the Double Decca releases of the French suites are very uncomplimentary. If they really wanted a Gould piano version why moan?!

[MickyD]

Indeed, makes you wonder what makes people post such things. I'm glad you are in agreement with me...if I remember correctly, Hogwood plays on a fine-sounding historical French instrument.

[MickyD]

No less than two important instruments in fact....a 1749 Goujon and a 1646 Ruckers!