Bach: Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The viola da gamba is an obsolete instrument now, but in Bach's day there were two large families of stringed instruments: the older gambas and the newer violins. Although quite similar in construction and performance technique, the soft, husky sound of the gambas was gradually replaced by the steely brilliance of the violins. Indeed, only one member of the family--the double bass--remains in modern use. Today most artists play the music on either a viola or a cello, since the music can be adapted easily to either. Kashkashian plays the viola, and as she is one of the greatest performers on that instrument around, and given Jarrett's clean and limber accompaniments, she acquits herself with honor and grace in this lovely music. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Sonata No. 1 In B Minor, BWV 1014: I. Adagio
Sonata No. 1 In B Minor, BWV 1014: II. Allegro
Sonata No. 1 In B Minor, BWV 1014: III. Andante
Sonata No. 1 In B Minor, BWV 1014: IV. Allegro
Sonata No. 2 In A Major, BWV 1015: I. Without Tempo Indication
Sonata No. 2 In A Major, BWV 1015: II. Allegro assai
Sonata No. 2 In A Major, BWV 1015: III. Andante un poco
Sonata No. 2 In A Major, BWV 1015: IV. Presto
Sonata No. 3 In E Major, BWV 1016: I. Adagio
Sonata No. 3 In E Major, BWV 1016: II. Allegro
Sonata No. 3 In E Major, BWV 1016: III. Adagio ma non tanto
Sonata No. 3 In E Major, BWV 1016: IV. Allegro
Sonata No. 4 In C Minor, BWV 1017: I. Siciliano. Largo
Sonata No. 4 In C Minor, BWV 1017: II. Allegro
Sonata No. 4 In C Minor, BWV 1017: III. Adagio
Sonata No. 4 In C Minor, BWV 1017: IV. Allegro

Tracks:

Sonata No. 5 In F Minor, BWV 1018: I. Largo
Sonata No. 5 In F Minor, BWV 1018: II. Allegro
Sonata No. 5 In F Minor, BWV 1018: III. Adagio
Sonata No. 5 In F Minor, BWV 1018: IV. Vivace
Sonata No. 6 In G Major, BWV 1019: I. Allegro
Sonata No. 6 In G Major, BWV 1019: II. Largo
Sonata No. 6 In G Major, BWV 1019: III. Allegro
Sonata No. 6 In G Major, BWV 1019: IV. Adagio
Sonata No. 6 In G Major, BWV 1019: V. Allegro
Sonata No. 1 In G Major, BWV 1027: I. Adagio
Sonata No. 1 In G Major, BWV 1027: II. Allegro ma non tanto
Sonata No. 1 In G Major, BWV 1027: III. Andante
Sonata No. 1 In G Major, BWV 1027: IV. Allegro moderato
Sonata No. 2 In D Major, BWV 1028: I. Adagio
Sonata No. 2 In D Major, BWV 1028: II. Allegro
Sonata No. 2 In D Major, BWV 1028: III. Andante
Sonata No. 2 In D Major, BWV 1028: IV. Allegro
Sonata No. 3 In G Minor, BWV 1029: I. Vivace
Sonata No. 3 In G Minor, BWV 1029: II. Adagio
Sonata No. 3 In G Minor, BWV 1029: III. Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Another emblematic homage in Bach ` s memory!.......2006-03-01

Glenn Gould in mutual collaboration with Jaime Laredo and Leonard Rose, made a brilliant account of these well known Bach 's arrangements. Impeccable musicality, superb phrasing, flawless sonority, egregious intonation, unerring lyricism and superb expressiveness make of this album a must-reference.

Acquire it without blinking.

The dynamic duo.......2005-07-12

Most of the recordings I have heard of the sonatas for Harpsicord and Violin use a Harpsicord not a piano. One of the things that happens is that the harpsicord tends to get "lost" as the violin is such a more powerfull instrument. Here the roles of both are equall and the pianist (Glen Gould) is a strong personality that makes himself felt in the music.

The interaction between Gould and Laredo is electric. Both formidable artist together they create fireworks. The 1014 allegro for example which sounds quite layed back in Biondi's disk here really rocks - you can't help humming along to it (by the way I can't here Gould humming along to anything).

I prefer this version to the Penguin Rosetted Grumiaux version (Harpsicord gets lost) and the highly regarded Biondii version (boring). I guess it is not that authentic but Gould brings out the beauty, liveliness and complexity of Bach better then any other Pianist I know of and Laredo is an exellent Violinist.

I havn't had time to listen to the concertos with Rose yet that end the offering.

This may not be the "reference" but if you are going to buy one recording of these works then buy this one!

Don't forget the cello........2003-10-10

Notice that this contains the marvelous Gould - Rose collaboration on the three cello sonatas, still a perennial favorite of mine. This item may be the only way to come by this recording anymore.

quirky but satisfying.......2001-04-02

Gould's Bach is so iconoclastic that it's sometimes difficult to imagine him playing chamber music, especially the sonatas for obbligato klavier and melody instrument, where the close parity between the solo player and the keyboard player's right hand calls for a sensitivity and flexibility that might have been beyond, or beneath, Gould's reach. So one should be primed for suprises in Gould's collaboration with Laredo-- and indeed, there is no lack of them. While this issue is a questionable choice for a "reference" version of the six sonatas, it is splendid and unusual, making a an excellent alternative to the many excellent performances (particularly on harpsichord) in the catalogue. Particular highlights are Laredo's playing in the final movement of the fourth sonata, and Gould's solo in the third movement of the sixth, for keyboard alone, as well as Gould's creative realizations of the ground bass in sections where the keyboard part is not fully written. Note: while Gould did make some recordings on the harpsichord, this disc (despite the title) gives us Gould on the piano.

Bach: Sonatas for Viola da gamba & Harpsichord

Average customer rating:

Average Bach value for the money.
Bach: Sonatas for Viola da gamba & Harpsichord
awesome
RATHER DUBIOUS "READINGS"

Bach: Sonatas for Viola da gamba & Harpsichord

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Before Sunset/Before Sunrise
Bach: Sonatas for Violin & Harpsichord, BWV 1014-1019; Sonatas for Viola da Gamba & Harpsichord, BWV 1027-1029
Appassionato

ASIN: B0000025PV
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Sonata No. 1 (G Major): Adagio
Sonata No. 1: Allegro ma non tanto
Sonata No. 1: Andante
Sonata No. 1: Allegro moderato
Sonata No. 2 (D Major): Adagio
Sonata No. 2: Allegro
Sonata No. 2: Andante
Sonata No. 2: Allegro
Sonata No. 3 (G Minor): Vivace
Sonata No. 3: Adagio
Sonata No. 3: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Average Bach value for the money........2006-05-25

These 'Sonatas for Viola da Gamba & Harpsicord' by Yo-Yo Ma (Cello) and Kenneth Cooper (Harpsichord) seem, to my relatively uneducated ear to be of just average quality compared to the great body of recorded Bach available on DVD.

The release is a transfer from an original released on vinyl, so part of the problem may be due to this transfer. I am certain that part of the problem is in the fact that the recording is relatively short as classical DVDs go. A symptom that this is a weakness is the fact that the timings are not even given on the case or the notes.

And, as far as Yo-Yo Ma's performance goes, I was much more moved by a five minute snippet of his performance in the second season of 'The West Wing' than I was by the full recording on this disk.

I can't help shaking the feeling that his heart wasn't in this one.

Bach: Sonatas for Viola da gamba & Harpsichord.......2005-07-20

This music is so pleasing to the ears and heart, it creates an atmosphere of peace and happiness. Yo-Yo Ma has once again taken Bach to a level few can surpass. A wonderful CD to relax or do work by.

awesome.......2002-09-30

This CD is what originally got me into classical music years ago and it continues to inspire me and be my favorite album.

Despite what the other reviewer said, i believe this recording contains huge depth and is interpreted beautifully.

A must have for ANY classical music lover(or non-lover).

RATHER DUBIOUS "READINGS".......2000-11-21

Unfortunately, even though the artists here are of the highest calibre, this CD of Bach's beautiful Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord is not self-recommending. I say unfortunately because these performances are curiously pedestrian, utterly routine and continuously lacking charm, grace and anything close to depth. It's all quite a terribly dull affair at Bach's expense--- and ours. To add insult to injury, the recording itself is heavily weighted in Ma's favor, which is hardly a bonus; Cooper's harpsichord sounds as if it's in another room somewhere in the distance... droning on and on and on. Even at mid-price, these renditions are simply not competitive.

[Running time: 42:24]

Average customer rating:

Capturing the spirit
Fantastico!

Johann Sebastian Bach: Gamba Sonatas

Manufacturer: Channel Classics Nl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bach: Sonatas for Violin & Harpsichord, Vol. 2
Bach: Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord, Vol. 1

ASIN: B00001NTJN
Release Date: 1999-09-07

Amazon.com

Bach's gamba sonatas, not as famous as his solo-cello suites, receive an audaciously imaginative presentation on an 18th-century violoncello piccolo that captures the extraordinary beauties of the music as few others have done (the most intriguing alternative version is by violist Kim Kashkashian and pianist Keith Jarrett on ECM). The resulting flow of music, as if the sonatas and their curious companions (arrangements of other Bach) were one continuous reflection, is hypnotic in its appeal. The lighter, more agile tones of the violoncello piccolo, meanwhile, make what often sounds dense on the modern cello fantastic and poetical by turns. All this musical glory is complemented by a superb recording that captures every interpretive nuance, and absorbing liner notes by the cellist that pose but do not answer the riddles of the extra music. For those who find Wispelwey's brilliant playing addictive, his 16 other CDs for Channel Classics include equally compelling recordings of music by Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, and Vivaldi. --Laurence Vittes

Customer Reviews:

Capturing the spirit.......2000-04-22

Wispelwey, Egarr, and Yeadon have achieved a rare musical balance. They truly form parts of a whole. The playing is very spirited, and polypnony is absolutely beautiful. Of special note is the first track, Prelude in C from the Well-Tempered Clavier. Piano students, this is the way it should be played. Buy this CD while it's here!

Fantastico!.......1999-09-28

Peter Wispelwey is the most gratest Bach's player

Bach: Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord

Average customer rating:

not bad
Dissapointing
Lovely recording, full of joy and tenderness

Bach: Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord

Manufacturer: Ecm Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000031XU
Release Date: 1994-10-11

Tracks:

Sonata in G BWV 1027 - Adagio
Allegro ma non tanto
Andante
Allegro moderator
Sonata in D BWV 1028 - Adagio
Allegro
Andante
Allegro
Sonata in G minor BWV 1029 - Vivace
Adagio
Allegro

Amazon.com

The viola da gamba is an obsolete instrument now, but in Bach's day there were two large families of stringed instruments: the older gambas and the newer violins. Although quite similar in construction and performance technique, the soft, husky sound of the gambas was gradually replaced by the steely brilliance of the violins. Indeed, only one member of the family--the double bass--remains in modern use. Today most artists play the music on either a viola or a cello, since the music can be adapted easily to either. Kashkashian plays the viola, and as she is one of the greatest performers on that instrument around, and given Jarrett's clean and limber accompaniments, she acquits herself with honor and grace in this lovely music. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

not bad.......2006-07-12

I know little about classical music but a search of reviews reveals that Kashkashian does a pretty good job playing music written for the Viola de Gamba - on the Viola - transposing the lowest notes up an octave so she can play them. Jarrett, though immensely talented and almost a household name, does only pretty well here.

All in all satisfying but could be better.

By the way - the Viola de Gamba is still used today - see Jordi Savall

see ASIN: B000025FOY for more info

Dissapointing.......2006-04-14

Kim Kashkashian is exhellent when dealing with contemporary composers, but it's apparent she does not understand how Bach should be interpreted.
As for mr. Jarrett, its equally apparent that he urgently needs lessons on how to play the harpsichord. Mrs Celine Frisch plays the same repertoire with double dexterity and expressiveness, despite being half Jarrett's age...

Lovely recording, full of joy and tenderness.......2005-12-19

The viola da gamba is as human an instrument as the harpsichord is metallic, but these sonatas were made in heaven -- as is borne out by the great popularity of this music and the number of times it is recorded (I have at least five versions and there must be a dozen more).

Also made in heaven is the partnership between these two stellar ECM performers. Kim Kashashian is absolutely in her element with this bittersweet, often elegaic music; she treats it with the tenderness she accords to all her recordings (which you should rush to, if you don't already know them) and her instrument has a noble, plangent voice that is never ponderous, always alive with emotion.

I am also a huge fan of Keith Jarrett's approach to Bach, which has been severely criticized for its cleanness. If you live long enough, they say, you will see everything; and I have lived long enough to see a pianist scolded for playing Bach in tempo, as if this were a grave fault. I remember when failing to play Bach metronomically would get you hooted out of the concert halls, but there you go. Jarrett's playing in these recordings seems to me magisterial, crisp and precise as it should be, and technically brilliant. It interacts perfectly with Kashkashian's vulnerable, velvety tones and subtle phrasing.

The viola da gamba was already an antique instrument when Bach wrote these sonatas, but his will shows that he owned one, and he must have been fond of it. (He also owned a lute, another archaic instrument for which he wrote a small group of pieces that are marked by their sweetness, as these are.) The husky, organic voice of the viola da gamba makes a fascinating counterpoise to the clatter of the harpsichord -- a lovely, exotic bird swooping and soaring, but always confined within the glittering bars of a cage.

This is a recording that belongs on your shelves, highly recommended to all!

Average customer rating:

Bach's Most Galante Style
Vigorous performances that will please fans of Bach or Baroque music

Bach: Sonatas for viola da gamba & harpsichord

Manufacturer: Avie
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Customer Reviews:

Bach's Most Galante Style.......2007-05-21

The viola da gamba sonatas are strikingly different from the solo cello sonatas -- less moody, less profound, but wonderfully melodic and decorative. In a sense, they look forward to the courtly styles of Bach's sons rather than to the spiritual/intellectual style of Bach Senior. This performance is aptly praised by the previous reviewer, Mr. Konczal. I'll offer a curious tip: because of the relatively equal dynamics of these pieces, unlike most of Bach,they can be "heard" nicely on a car audio system. I often listen to them on long drives.

Vigorous performances that will please fans of Bach or Baroque music.......2007-05-20

Is there room in the world of recorded music for yet another Bach CD? Of course - especially when the results are this good. Harpsichordist Trevor Pinnock and violist Jonathan Manson deliver vigorous performances of Bach's Sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord, achieving a rich texture and visceral beauty that should appeal to any Bach or Baroque fan.

Bach's three sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord (BWVs 1027, 1028 and 1029) comprise most of the running time. Pinnock and Mason present them out of sequence, opening with the sonata in G minor (BWV 1029) so that its lively first movement begins the disc. Bach's use of ritornello (recurring motifs which reappear in fragments to establish thematic unity) infuses this work with a concerto-like quality. BWVs 1027 and 1028 follow; in these, Bach follows the four-movement, slow-fast-slow-fast form developed by Italian composers such as Corelli.

The program ends with Sonata in G minor (BWV1030b). Bach may have written the top part for oboe, rather than viola da gamba, but it's hard to quibble with Pinnock and Manson's interpretation.

Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates Baroque music or the works of J. S. Bach.

Average customer rating:

Bach: Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord

Manufacturer: EMI Records [All429]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002SSE
Release Date: 1996-08-13

Tracks:

Son No.1 in G, BWV 1027: I. Adagio
Son No.1 in G, BWV 1027: II. Allegro Ma Non Tanto
Son No.1 in G, BWV 1027: III. Andante
Son No.1 in G, BWV 1027: IV. Allegro Moderato
Son No.2 in D, BWV 1028: I. Adagio
Son No.2 in D, BWV 1028: II. Allegro
Son No.2 in D, BWV 1028: III. Andante
Son No.2 in D, BWV 1028: IV. Allegro
Son No.3 in g, BWV 1029: I. Vivace
Son No.3 in g, BWV 1029: II. Adagio
Son No.3 in g, BWV 1029: III. Allegro

Bach: 3 Sonatas for Cello and Harpsichord

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Bach: 3 Sonatas for Cello and Harpsichord

Manufacturer: Doremi Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00079W8QI
Release Date: 2005-03-01

Tracks:

I. Adagio
II. Allegro Ma Non Tanto
III. Andante
IV. Allegro Moderato
I. Adagio
II. Allegro
III. Andante
IV. Allegro
I. Vivace
II. Adagio
III. Allegro
Adagio
Grave
I. Prelude
II. Allemande
III. Courante
IV. Sarabande
V. Menuett I & II
VI. Gigue
III. Courante
V. Menuett I & II

Johann Sebastian Bach 3 Sonatas for Viola da gamba and Harpsichord; Bach/Kodaly Fantasia Cromatica (SNE)

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Johann Sebastian Bach 3 Sonatas for Viola da gamba and Harpsichord; Bach/Kodaly Fantasia Cromatica (SNE)

Manufacturer: SNE
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000R72HBG