Nov 25, 20 schiff imbued the welltempered claviers 24 preludes and fugues with a formidable sense of direction, writes martin kettle. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. Andras schiff recorded most of bachs keyboard works in the 1980s, and has recently made a number of new recordings for ecm. 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. Twentyfive years ago, pianist andras schiff recorded the complete preludes and fugues of the welltempered clavier by j. The well tempered clavier, book ii by andras schiff. That schiff decca set remains a model of sovereign intelligence, limpid playfulness and pianism, but in revisiting the well tempered clavier he has said that he wants to eliminate touches of sentimentality. Most readers have likely heard of glenn gould, edwin fischer, sviatoslav richter, rosalyn tureck, andras schiff, angela hewitt, samuel feinberg, and friedrich gulda. I think the well tempered clavier by johann sebastian bach is the best music ever written by anyone ever. The welltempered clavier book i, bwv 846869 by johann.
Sir andras schiff plays the welltempered clavier, book ii prelude. Andras schiff returned to the proms for a late night recital of js bach s well tempered clavier, book i. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Shop and buy the well tempered clavier book i, bwv 846869 sheet music. Our privacy policy was last updated on friday 31 january. Robert douglass is raising funds for open welltempered clavier bah to bach on kickstarter. Till fellner records bachs well tempered clavier book i. This website is incredibly resourceful, and one can especially check the 1722 original of the welltempered clavier book 1. In august 2011, schiff turned his focus to the 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier, making studio recordings of both books in the auditorium radiosvizzera italiana, lugano. Bachs welltempered clavier which collection to buy. Apr 23, 2019 robert douglass is raising funds for open welltempered clavier bah to bach on kickstarter.
This is especially true for the longer pieces, only few can really understand those in detail merely based on musical instinct and talent i, for instance, cant. Download a free and public domain recording and musical. His execution was masterly and this master pianists reputation as a standard bearer of this music was upheld beyond doubt. Bachs keyboard music on the modern piano, pianists are confronted with various fundamental questions. He hears different nuances and colors than he did as a young man.
Particularly in the second half schiff s playing was more overtly emotional, slightly more idiosyncratic, and, remarkably given the. The result feels more like an evolution than a rejection of his youthful preoccupations. Bachs welltempered clavier for london in the mid1980s, but the passage of time, personal reflection, and improvements in digital recording have contributed to making his second recording of the 48 a necessity, this time on ecm new series. Shop and buy the welltempered clavier book i, bwv 846869 sheet music. The clavichord, the harpsichord, the organ, the pedalharpsichord. For most arrangements, see the separate pages for the individual preludes and fugues.
The well tempered clavier, book ii to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. Andras schiff and the bach project the washington post. Preludes and fugues through all tones and semitones name translations. The two books of preludes and fugues that make up bach s well tempered clavier. Its just perfect, ive been listening to and playing some of this music for about 15 years now and i never get tired of it, there is so much variety and so many brilliant musical ideas here that you never really understand all of it and so it is constantly surprising you, on the surface.
At times, this recital felt just plain wrong, almost voyeuristic. Distinguished bach specialist sir andras schiff returned to the bbc proms in 2018 to present book ii of the welltempered clavier. As eloquent as ever, and always meticulous in execution, schiff plays the two books of preludes and. Open welltempered clavier bah to bach by robert douglass. Prelude in c major, well tempered clavier book 2, j. Andras schiff the welltempered clavier bach cd1 mp3. Modern editions usually refer to both parts as the well tempered clavier, book i wtc i and the well tempered clavier, book ii wtc ii, respectively. Shop and buy well tempered clavier book 2 sheet music.
Johann sebastian bach was undoubtedly the greatest musical thinker of his age. This is a very fine welltempered clavier and goes way beyond experiment, taking some of the finest keyboard music ever written into stunning new realms. In bachs time clavier was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding an organ either the modern german spelling for the collection is. Over time, schiff says that this music that his relationship with this music that he performs every morning has changed slightly. For book 2, to view originals is a more complex exercise, given the lack of the one authoritative original from js bachs hand and the fragmentation of historical copies see the work of yo tomita for more info on this. They also said that the problem was not with amazon only, and that most likely the same poor quality files were provided by the label to itunes. In addition to being outstanding pianists, each has recorded bachs well tempered clavier and received great praise. Bach loved numbers, symbolism, and symmetry, so this is very likely his way of showing that he intended to write 24 fugues altogether. The well tempered clavier, book 2, bwv 870893, clavicembalo remastered by helmut walcha. Because our mp3s have no drm, you can play it on any device that supports mp3, even on your ipod.
Johann sebastian bach the welltempered clavier ii andras schiff. Weve begun with the well tempered clavier the prelude and fugue in cminor from book 1. Teil i nr 2 bwv 847 cmoll figuriertes praludium tanzfuge 3. This boxed set of the two books of the welltempered clavier is his latest such release, and shows schiff as a much more mature pianist. Prelude in c major, welltempered clavier book 2, j. Andras schiff master class bach wtc book 2 f major prelude duration. A proper analysis of js bach s well tempered clavier is therefore simply a must for anybody who takes playing the 48 seriously. Deceptive cadence the pianist has such an intimate relationship with the welltempered clavier, hearing him play its kaleidoscopic preludes and. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet.
Nov 27, 2012 twentyfive years ago, pianist andras schiff recorded the complete preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. The welltempered clavier, book i andras schiff on allmusic 1986. Andras schiff would be a better option for listening for reference because his interpretations have clarity. Please note the id wristband is for content id dispute purposes. Dubbed the old testament of music by the conductor and. Bach, andras schiff the welltempered clavier, book 2. Book two of the welltempered clavier dates from 173842 some 20 years after book one and was assembled from both newly composed pieces and various existing preludes and fugues going back a number of years. 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. Sir andras schiff plays the welltempered clavier bbc. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile. It had a purgative, deeply personal flavour to it that had been absent from andras schiffs performance of the first book of the well tempered clavier, five days and hurricane sandy prior. Prelude and fugue in f sharp minor wtk, book ii, no. Which published edition of this work would you all recommend for me so that i can get the fingering right.
The well tempered clavier, book ii andras schiff on allmusic 1986. Book two of the well tempered clavier dates from 173842 some 20 years after book one and was assembled from both newly composed pieces and various existing preludes and fugues going back a number of years. Jan 16, 20 andras schiffs welltempered guide to bach. Bach, the well tempered clavier, book 1 sviatoslav richter 1969 duration. In some of the areas, the fingering is driving me crazy. Now, using his own steinway, schiff turns his focus to the 48 preludes and fugues of the welltempered clavier, making studio recordings in lugano of both. His playing is delicate, wellinformed without falling into the hip category, and an overall joy to listen to. In august 2011, schiff turned his focus to the 48 preludes and fugues of the welltempered clavier, making studio recordings of. Order from your preferred classical music cd store. Bachs welltempered clavier indepth analysis and interpretation siglind bruhn. The two books of preludes and fugues that make up bachs welltempered clavier.
A proper analysis of js bachs welltempered clavier is therefore simply a must for anybody who takes playing the 48 seriously. Well tempered clavier book 2 by johann sebastian bach. The ornamentation is less exuberant, the rubato less intrusive, and schiff is more determined to let bachs. Piano solo sheet music book by johann sebastian bach 16851750. Sep 19, 2012 andras schiff has recorded the 48 preludes and fugues that make up the welltempered clavier before, in the mid80s as part of his complete survey of bachs keyboard music for decca. The worldfamous pianist andras schiff, a most familiar name to bach fans on account of his complete recordings of bach s piano works, has provided fingerings for both parts of the well tempered clavier. Dec 24, 2012 going back to schiff s well tempered clavier. Sir andras schiff plays the welltempered clavier, book i youtube. All these years later i have finally purchased book two, featuring mr. Schiff imbued the welltempered claviers 24 preludes and fugues with a formidable sense of direction, writes martin kettle. Some 20 years later bach compiled a second book of the same kind, which became known as the well tempered clavier, part two in german. On points of taste there are one or two pieces i like less than others, such as the rather choppy fugue in c sharp major from book ii, but these would all be minor observations. Bach, andras schiff the welltempered clavier, book. Mp3 is a digital audio format without digital rights management drm technology.