JS Bach

[Thropplenoggin]

Barbara Hendricks is currently murdering one of my favourite Bach aria's: ‘Schafe können sicher weiden’, BWV208 I wonder why the Don chose this version?

[Nick Armstrong]

Barbara Hendricks is currently murdering one of my favourite Bach aria's: ‘Schafe können sicher weiden’, BWV208 I wonder why the Don chose this version?

It was strange wasn't it! Mind you, it was tender, loving care compared with the vicious assassination on his arias performed by one of the tenors in the St Matthew Passion I went to yesterday!!! Truly awful... I've no idea who it was, as the bloke bore no resemblance to anyone in the programme - either he was a last minute stand-in, or his photo in the prog. was taken many many moons ago...

[Thropplenoggin]

It was strange wasn't it! Mind you, it was tender, loving care compared with the vicious assassination on his arias performed by one of the tenors in the St Matthew Passion I went to yesterday!!! Truly awful... I've no idea who it was, as the bloke bore no resemblance to anyone in the programme - either he was a last minute stand-in, or his photo in the prog. was taken many many moons ago...

Glad it wasn't just my ears that were pleading for mercy!

Ah, le pauvre! Now awaiting a full concert report with some trepidation. I trust you got Herr Scholl's autograph.

[Frances_iom]

The Bach organ at Arnstadt was restored to original condition a few years ago (+ looks very fine) - I have a recording of it on CD - bit surprised that this wasn't used as an illustration as Bach got the job based on his demonstration of the new organ

[Gordon]

Yes that aria wasn't well done was it!! I was surprised at the BWV 564 as well and that Christopher Herrick seemed to make a meal of it. The registration chosen wasn't very harmonious to my ears. There are better versions. Surely an historic organ such as that reported by Frances would have been more appropriate rather than a Danish one despite its maker's credentials.

[Bryn]

Today we had an taste of Book 1 of The Well-tempered Klavier, which was of course written with well temperament in mind. So what did we get as an illustration? A recording of the C# Major Prelude and Fugue played on an equal temperament modern piano.

[Dave2002]

Today we had an taste of Book 1 of The Well-tempered Klavier, which was of course written with well temperament in mind. So what did we get as an illustration? A recording of the C# Major Prelude and Fugue played on an equal temperament modern piano.

Mmmm, yes. In real terms though, is the difference very audible? I've not checked - perhaps you have.

[Thropplenoggin]

Today we had an taste of Book 1 of The Well-tempered Klavier, which was of course written with well temperament in mind. So what did we get as an illustration? A recording of the C# Major Prelude and Fugue played on an equal temperament modern piano.

The greatest crime of all would be if Angela Hewitt was playing it?

[vinteuil]

The greatest crime of all would be if Angela Hewitt was playing it?

YESS!!!

.



.



.

[Bryn]

Mmmm, yes. In real terms though, is the difference very audible? I've not checked - perhaps you have.

Well they could at least have tried. There is a superb set recorded by Richard Egarr using Bradley Lehman's attempt at reproducing Bach's preferred tuning for BOOK 1.

[Thropplenoggin]

YESS!!!

.



.



.

Best. Emoticon usage. Ever.

[Gordon]

Well they could at least have tried. There is a superb set recorded by Richard Egarr using Bradley Lehman's attempt at reproducing Bach's preferred tuning for BOOK 1.

great set that. Recently I was at harpsichord recital [Handel mostly] and arrived at the Hall early to hear the player [Colin Booth - see www.soundboard-records.co.uk] tuning up [he had built his own instrument] so I stood listening. He noticed me listening and we chatted about tuning and he said he used Young's tuning which is good [ie harmonious] for keys not too far from C but not so good for remoter ones and hence challenged by the 48. He was not at all convinced by the Lehman idea!! There was no time to demonstrate [!!!] so a missed opportunity.

I've tried comparing versions with Egarr and I can't say the diffference is that obvious especially when there is the difference in timbre between the instruments themselves and slight pitch differences. I forgot to ask Colin what pitch he used. He has written a substantial tome on notation and ornamentation etc for keyboard - "Did Bach really mean that!" http://www.fuguestatefilms.co.uk/sho.../did_bach.html For the specialist but fascinating reading anyway.

[vinteuil]

My first introduction to this subject was the article "Bach's keyboard temperament : internal evidence from the Well-Tempered Clavier" by John Barnes in the April 1979 issue of 'Early Music' (pp 236-249.

I found his arguments in favour of Werckmeister III compelling.

Later in life I was involved in various early music Competitions. The keyboard tuner (who was happy to arrange whatever temperament a candidate required) commented (discreetly) that if the performers concentrated more on playing the right notes in the right order rather than ponceying around with various temperaments they wd be more likely to succeed...

[JFLL]

The greatest crime of all would be if Angela Hewitt was playing it?

Not a crime, just an alternative way of playing it. Regard it as an arrangement for modern piano, and then you won’t be outraged. (Or maybe you will.)

[vinteuil]

Not a crime, just an alternative way of playing it. Regard it as an arrangement for modern piano, and then you won’t be outraged. (Or maybe you will.)

... yes, I shall be outraged.

I am happy with many performances of Bach on the piano.

I find the prim Hewitt intolerable.