Bach Violin chords and the German curved bow.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Thanks for that:

That's the fella! And the LP box.

Was enjoying the chaconne till it faded away Seems to me he has some unusual and interesting ideas, particularly around dynamics, and isn't afraid to break up the work into contrasting sections, in contrast to some who seek more to make it one seamless line.

I know next to nothing about violin technique so won't say anything about his tricky fingerings, hand positions etc as per booklet essay, to play chords as chords rather than arpeggios.

[Bryn]

Both the Novotný and Luca sets can be found at QOBUZ.

[Dave2002]

Hmm, this looks interesting (the relevant section is a few paragraphs down). It's a long time since I bought the Luca LPs and I must admit I do not recall his arguments against the playing of the chords as chords.

Indeed, that Peter Gutmann article is very interesting to read - http://www.classicalnotes.net/classics/partitas.html

Thanks for pointing it out.

[richardfinegold]

The 'Baroque curved bow' is an unhistorical absurdity.
There is no documentary evidence for it, neither any organological evidence. It remains an unconvincing 20th century experiment dating from the very early years of 'hipp'.
I have owned the 'Turnabout' LP box set of Sergiu Luca Bach recordings ever since they were first released and I do think that they are 'right up there' with the very finest 21st century recordings. I'll go so far as to say that IMV his D minor Chaconne has never been surpassed, let alone equalled, as a 'gut-strung' recording.

I managed a trip to my favorite second hand lp store. They didn't have the Luca set but they are now in some type of cooperative arrangement with similar stores and ordered it for me. I probably could have got it for the same price on ebay but I would like to support the store.
I listened to Nathan Milstein in the Second Partita yesterday (DG). He does miss some of the granduer of the Chaconne. I had heard him play it live a t a concert a few months before he died and it was overwhelming.