Johann Sebastian Bach: Gamba Sonatas

Editorial Reviews
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

Tracks:

Carnival Of The Animals - Bruno Canino
Vocalise, Op.34 No.14 - Lynn Harrell
Thais - Julian Lloyd Webber
Adagio - Janos Starker
Apres Un Reve - Bruno Canino
Adagio - Julian Lloyd Webber
Ave Maria - Julian Lloyd Webber
Adagio - Julian Lloyd Webber
Traumerei (Dreaming) - Bruno Canino
Notturno: Andante - Julian Lloyd Webber
Sicilienne - Bruno Canino
An Die Musik, D547 - Bruno Canino
Reverie - Julian Lloyd Webber
Prayer - Bruno Canino
Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana - Bruno Canino
Salut D'amour, Op.12 - Bruno Canino
Valse Sentimentale, Op.15 No.6 - Samuel Sanders
Kol Nidrei, Op.47 - Julian Lloyd Webber

Tracks:

Air (Air On A G String) - Julian Lloyd Webber
Clair De Lune - Julian Lloyd Webber
Elegie, Op.24 - Jullian Lloyd Webber
Andante - Heinrich Schiff
Romance In D Minor, Op.62 - Julian Lloyd Webber
Beau Soir - Bruno Canino
Sicilienne, Op.78 - Bruno Canino
Panis Angelicus - Julian Lloyd Webber
Nocturne In E Flat Major, Op.9 No.2 - Julian Lloyd Webber
Cantabile - Samuel Sanders
Liebesleid - Samuel Sanders
Adagio Ma Non Troppo - Janos Starker
Bereuse - Julian Lloyd Webber
Cantilena - Julian Lloyd Webber
Melodie, Op.20 No.1 - Julian Lloyd Webber

Customer Reviews:

really like it.......2007-03-05

This is the first classical cd I have ever bought. The two-disc album was a great price. I really love the performance of Lynn Harrell. I like the collection of Adagios because they are perfect to fall asleep to or study to.

Average customer rating:

Absolutely Exquisite!
Technique isn't everything
Superb Starker

Italian Cello Sonatas

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Janos Starker
Brahms, Mendelssohn: Cello Sonatas
Starker Encore Album
Janos Starker Virtuoso Music for Cello
The Road To Cello Playing

ASIN: B0000057MG
Release Date: 1994-09-20

Tracks:

Sonata In A Major: 1. Adagio
Sonata In A Major: 2. Allegro
Sonata In E Minor: 1. Largo
Sonata In E Minor: 2. Allegro
Sonata In E Minor: 3. Largo
Sonata In E Minor: 4. Allegro
Sonata In D minor: 1. Preludio
Sonata In D minor: 2. Allemanda
Sonata In D minor: 3. Sarabanda
Sonata In D minor: 4. Giga
Sonata In D Major: 1. Allegro - Locatelli Sonata in D Major
Sonata In D Major: 2. Adagio - Locatelli Sonata in D Major
Sonata In D Major: 3. Minuetto
Sonata In E Major: 1. Grave
Sonata In E Major: 2. Allegro
Sonata In E Major: 3. Allegro (tempo di gavotta)
Sonata In E Major: 4. Largo
Sonata In E Major: 5. Allegro
Sonata In G Minor, BWV 1029: 1. Vivace
Sonata In G Minor, BWV 1029: 2. Adagio
Sonata In G Minor, BWV 1029: 3. Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Exquisite!.......2006-10-06

This is a fabulous recording! The music and musicianship are superb. The Vivaldi is soulful and the Locatelli and Valentini sonatas are virtuoso pieces wonderfully played. The third Bach sonata was placed on this CD because it did not fit on the Mercury set with the Bach suites. It is a bit of a change of pace (certainly not an Italian cello sonata!). But Sebok is perhaps the best of Starker's collaborators. Their lifelong friendship and shared musical tastes make this one of the best recordings of this Bach sonata. You have to own this CD if you already own the Mercury edition of the Bach solo suites with the other two Bach sonatas.

I am not sure what the "one star" reviewer was thinking. Perhaps he was expecting Baroque a la Jacqueline DuPre...

Technique isn't everything.......2005-11-27

In this recording, Janos Starker proves what true musicians around the globe already know: technique is definitely not everything. These performances are so bland and dry, but you'll never hear him make a mistake. I'd really rather listen to someone who plays with expression but who makes little errors anyday over Janos. I know he's really highly esteemed in the cello world, but he really oughtta stay away from Baroque. These performances are about as gripping as a Slip-`N-Slide. Add to it that he plays all the music like it's Ravel or Brahms (i like both of them, but way different style); the vibrato machine is constantly on - TURN IT OFF! ARE YOU TRYING TO SOUND LIKE A BEL CANTO OPERA SINGER?, tuning is A440, clanky bright PIANO for accompaniment, no one playing continuo - the guy OBVIOUSLY doesn't give a flying fig about authenticity, or the composer's intentions. To sum it up, if you want a recording that sounds like the Suzuki Cello School tapes with way less expression and an even hokier sounding piano, buy this recording. Everyone else, beware.

Superb Starker.......2001-04-28

This collection of Italian Cello Sonatas by the great Janos Starker is one of the most delightful chamber albums I own. The world renowned cellist was joined on this 1966 recording by pianist Stephen Swedish on five of the selections, and by his frequent collaborator Gyorgy Sebok on the Bach Sonata in G minor, which was recorded in 1963 and added to this collection to increase its length (it is a welcome addition musically too). The selections here range from famous composers like Bach, Boccherini and Vivaldi, to the lesser known Corelli, Locatelli and Valentini. For me, the common thread of this recording is the passionate performances of Starker. Whether it is the happy bounce of the Vivaldi Allegro, the sublime rendering of the Boccherini Adagio, or the precise interplay with Sebok on the Bach Sonata, Starker plays masterfully and his cello is captured in rich, full sound by the Mercury Living Presence recording technique. This is an excellent purchase for all cello enthusiasts.

Bach: Sonatas for Viola da gamba und Cembalo

Average customer rating:

superb artistry and delicious tone
Not your grandmother's period performance
The best period recording of these works available
Superb

Bach: Sonatas for Viola da gamba und Cembalo

Manufacturer: Alia Vox Spain
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bach: Die Kunst der Fuge

ASIN: B00004SZ37
Release Date: 2000-05-09

Tracks:

Son No.4 in C, BWV 529: Allegro
Son No.4 in C, BWV 529: Largo
Son No.4 in C, BWV 529: Allegro
Son No.1 in G, BWV 1027: Adagio
Son No.1 in G, BWV 1027: Allego Ma Non Tanto
Son No.1 in G, BWV 1027: Andante
Son No.1 in G, BWV 1027: Allegro Moderato
Son No.2 in D, BWV 1028: Adagio
Son No.2 in D, BWV 1028: Allegro
Son No.2 in D, BWV 1028: Andante
Son No.2 in D, BWV 1028: Allegro
Son No.3 in g, BWV 1029: Vivace
Son No.3 in g, BWV 1029: Adagio
Son No.3 in g, BWV 1029: Allegro

Amazon.com essential recording

Bach, like Handel and most other baroque composers, often reused compositions, either adapting and assembling portions of them to make new "compilation" works (as with the four short Masses) or rearranging them for other forces (as with the violin concertos Bach rearranged as harpsichord concertos). Bach's three sonatas for viola da gamba and keyboard are just such rearrangements, all of trio sonatas for two melody instruments and continuo. This means that the keyboard isn't just harmonic accompaniment: It's a second melody instrument, an equal duet partner with the gamba. This can be difficult for a harpsichordist to pull off successfully, because the harpsichord can't sustain a note or vary its volume. (Bach didn't specify which keyboard instrument to use, however, and there are other interesting period instrument options possible.) Ton Koopman does his instrument proud, though--he's more famous now as a Bach conductor, but he came to prominence as a harpsichordist and organist, and his sparkling performance here shows why. Jordi Savall is probably the only viola da gamba player to have become famous beyond the small world of early-instrument aficionados. Granted, that's partly due to his conducting career, but no one can make this rather introverted instrument sing quite like Savall can. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

superb artistry and delicious tone.......2005-11-21

There is a large number of recordings of these pieces available today, but I would say this ranks as one of the finest, if not THE finest, available. Jordi Savall has a wonderful way of making the viola da gamba sound as well as it can all the time, and even in the most virtuosic passages of these pieces there isn't any "scratchy" playing like you will find in recordings by lesser gambists. Also present is the great sense of musicianship and sensitivity one would expect from Savall.

Ton Koopman is among the most famous harpsichordists and Baroque conductors in the world today, and he certainly does justice to the keyboard parts, which unlike most contemporary Baroque sonatas, are far more than mere accompaniment or continuo parts. Bach wrote a true trio texture here, and while I would wish that some of the harpsichord lines could come out more, others have written that the harpsichord is more present than in other recordings, so perhaps as a harpsichordist myself(and gambist) I am just being picky!

I own hundreds of dollars worth of Savall CDs and I would recommend this one just as heartily as the others. A great treat is the arrangement of the C major organ tio sonata for alto viol and harpsichord: perhaps the only "alto viola da gamba" sonata recording you can find. The now-rare instrument sounds beautiful and has a singing tone with lots of resonance in the lower range...a little like a viola but with a more transparent and clear tone.

Not your grandmother's period performance.......2002-08-06

Delicious. Despite the remarkable artistry that has come into the historical performance world in the past several decades, we've had to wait for this to hear the first truly remarkable recording of the gamba sonatas (although the Bylsma/van Asperen experiment impresses too). These little gems are fantastic-- much larger in scope and depth than the humble (to those who have not heard it) instrumentation would suggest. And, Koopman and Savall have thrown in a reworking of the similarily structured C-major trio sonata for organ to the CD's tremendous advantage.

The best period recording of these works available.......2002-04-03

This has to be considered the definitive recording of the Bach gamba sonatas. Savall and Koopman are arguably the finest gamba and harpsichord players, respectively, in the world. The balance is slightly more harpsichord-heavy than is typically heard, but it allows both hands of the keyboard a chance at equality. Rather than be a viol accompanied by two keyboard lines, this is three individual lines of music, and Koopman is skilled enough to make it work. Listen for a few painfully long resolutions on half-cadences at the end of slow movements. It's the nice kind of pain. The addition of an arrangement of an organ sonata as a sort of fourth viola da gamba sonata is a pleasant treat.

For those of you who don't know these works, this is essential listening. The three gamba sonatas are among the last great pieces written for the instrument, which subsequently went out of style until relatively recently.

Superb.......2001-03-10

Savall and Koopman first recorded the three gamba sonatas over twenty years ago, so this new version was already up against stiff competition from the same pair of musicians. But what a revelation! While the two work together splendidly, the contrast between their approaches is what makes the collaboration so perfect. And, as one might expect, the added experience both have beind them make for a more relaxed, though hardly less engaging, performance. Savall's dynamic subtleties are matched by Koopman's strongly rhetorical approach and tighty controlled ornamentation. As an added bonus, one of the six trio sonatas (originally for organ) is added to fill out the disc. While there are plenty of recordings of these works in the catalogue, including excellent modern instrument performances by the likes of Kim Kashkashian on viola and many 'cellists, these should easily be THE performances to have, and not just for period-performance buffs.

Average customer rating:

Piano poorly captured
What a pity
Not-so-Baroque Bach
Too much sustaining pedal
Just Heavenly

Bach: Sonatas for Cello & Piano

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mischa Maisky and Martha Argerich in Concert

ASIN: B000001G6L
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Sonata No. 1 In G Major, BWV 1027: 1. Adagio
Sonata No. 1 In G Major, BWV 1027: 2. Allegro ma non tanto
Sonata No. 1 In G Major, BWV 1027: 3. Andante
Sonata No. 1 In G Major, BWV 1027: 4. Allegro
Sonata No. 2 In D Major, BWV 1028: 1. Adagio
Sonata No.2 In D Major, BWV 1028: 2. Allegro
Sonata No. 2 In D Major, BWV 1028: 3. Andante
Sonata No. 2 In D Major, BWV 1028: 4. Allegro
Sonata No. 3 In G Minor, BWV 1029: 1. Vivace
Sonata No. 3 In G Minor, BWV 1029: 2. Adagio
Sonata No. 3 In G Minor, BWV 1029: 3. Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Piano poorly captured.......2006-08-04

Its hard to decide how to rate this CD. I agree with most other reviewers that the performance is 5 stars. But the piano is both too low in volume and too thin sounding to my ear. And in this work the piano part is just as important as the cello. For what to me sounds like perfect balance between soloist and piano see Schumann: Song Cycles, Op.24, 42 & 48, with Leon Fleisher. Excerpts are available on Amazon.

What a pity.......2006-04-01

What a pity Martha didn't use less piano sustaining pedal in this cd!

Not-so-Baroque Bach.......2005-12-20

These three sonatas - composed originally for the viola da gamba and harpsichord - are very musically-appealing compositions. And unlike previous Baroque cahmber-music tradition, the harpsichord is not relegated to mere continuo but projected into the spotlight as co-soloist - perhaps to showcase some of Bach's keyboard virtuosity. There are several fine period recordings of these works on viola da gamba and harpsichord (Savall, Peri, Crum, Wispelwey) or modern cello with harpsichord (Ma, Tortelier). But if your taste favors all modern instuments (cello, piano), then this circa-80's CD by the legendary Martha Argerich and Misha Maisky is the ticket.

What is immediately striking about the recording is Maisky's lush and sensual cello tone and graceful progression through the music. Perhaps to some, it is not "Baroque enough" a sound with more Romantic flavor. Regardless, it is beautiful and emmensely likeable playing. Maisky's partnership here with Miss Argerich is seamless and well judged - both share enthusiastically the contrapuntal voices with equal weight and balance. Argerich's tempos and style are in-synch with both Bach's intent and Maisky's poised playing, so you won't find her sometimes "overdriven" tempos or bravura here as she finds the right center of gravity for Bach's music. Equally attractive is the bright, full and perfectly balanced sound from DG. Penguin Guide rated this 3/3 stars, noting that those who prefer modern over period instruments will delight in this partnership and fine recording. I tend to prefer this sensual-sounding Bach recording for certain times, but, in other times - when I crave pure Baroque period sounds - I prefer the other mentioned recordings of the viola da gamba and harpsichord (of which, Jordy Savall is usually the top pick). A treat for Argerich fans. 5 stars assuming you prefer more modern timbres.

Too much sustaining pedal.......2005-11-23

This cd should be beatiful without the sustaing pedal on piano (vibrato on cello, dynamic and agoge bearables)...

Just Heavenly.......2003-10-10

This one has finally supplanted the Leonard Rose - Glenn Gould recording as main dish in my soul food banquet.

Average customer rating:

Bach: Gamba Sonatas

Manufacturer: Orfeo
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000RGSVL2
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Bach: Sonatas for Violin & Harpsichord, BWV 1014-1019; Sonatas for Viola da Gamba & Harpsichord, BWV 1027-1029

Average customer rating:

Another emblematic homage in Bach ` s memory!
The dynamic duo
Don't forget the cello.
quirky but satisfying

Bach: Sonatas for Violin & Harpsichord, BWV 1014-1019; Sonatas for Viola da Gamba & Harpsichord, BWV 1027-1029

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000028NN
Release Date: 1995-02-07

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: Six Suites; Sonatas in G major & D major

Average customer rating:

SACD has excellent sound, but where is the G minor sonata?
Wonderful
Magnificent - But buy the 2004 SACD release
Epochal performance, poor remastering
simply not very good

Bach: Six Suites; Sonatas in G major & D major

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000057L9
Release Date: 1991-11-08

Tracks:

Suite No. 1 In G Major: Praeludium
Suite No. 1 In G Major: Allemande
Suite No. 1 In G Major: Courante
Suite No. 1 In G Major: Sarabande
Suite No. 1 In G Major: Menuets
Suite No. 1 In G Major: Gigue
Suite No. 2 in D minor: Praeludium
Suite No. 2 in D minor: Allemande
Suite No. 2 in D minor: Courante
Suite No. 2 in D minor: Sarabande
Suite No. 2 in D minor: Menuets
Suite No. 2 in D minor: Gigue
Suite No. 3 In C Major: Praeludium
Allemande
Suite No. 3 In C Major: Courante
Suite No. 3 In C Major: Sarabande
Suite No. 3 In C Major: Bourrees
Suite No. 3 In C Major: Gigue
Suite No. 4 In E-Flat Major: Praeludium
Suite No. 4 In E-Flat Major: Allemande
Suite No. 4 In E-Flat Major: Courante
Suite No. 4 In E-Flat Major: Sarabande
Suite No. 4 In E-Flat Major: Bourees
Suite No. 4 In E-Flat Major: Gigue

Tracks:

Suite No. 5 in C minor: Praeludinium
Suite No. 5 in C minor: Allemande
Suite No. 5 in C minor: Courante
Suite No. 5 in C minor: Sarabande
Suite No. 5 in C minor: Gavottes
Suite No. 5 in C minor: Gigue
Suite No. 6 In D Major: Praeludinium
Suite No. 6 In D Major: Allemande
Suite No. 6 In D Major: Courante
Suite No. 6 In D Major: Sarabande
Suite No. 6 In D Major: Gavottes
Suite No. 6 In D Major: Gigue
Sonata In G Major, BWV 1027: Adagio
Sonata In G Major, BWV 1027: Allegro Ma Non Tanto
Sonata In G Major, BWV 1027: Andante
Sonata In G Major, BWV 1027: Allegro Moderato
Sonata In D Major, BWV 1028: Adagio
Sonata In D Major, BWV 1028: Allegro
Sonata In D Major, BWV 1028: Andante
Sonata In D Major, BWV 1028: Allegro

Amazon.com

Apparently, no music could be simpler than these suites, composed for a single, unaccompanied instrument, and each made up of a prelude followed by a series of stylized Baroque dances: allemande, courante, saraband, minuet, bourré/e or gavotte, and gigue. Yet each suite, each movement has a striking individuality and each cellist makes the series his own. It is totally objective music and, at the same time, intensely personal. János Starker's view is spare, ascetic, technically flawless, suggesting much more than it says, like a fine line drawing by an old master painter. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews:

SACD has excellent sound, but where is the G minor sonata?.......2006-12-02

Recently, I have been replacing my very favorite classical records with CD's. I've always loved my Mercury records of Bach Cello Suites, played by Starker, so decided to purchase the CD. I also have the record of the Cello Sonatas with Starker & Sebok, which are equally wonderful. I decided to purchase the SACD of this recoding because it also included the Sonata set, or so I thought. If I only wanted the suites I probably would have bought the RCA Victor set based on the reviews here.

Upon receiving this SACD, I decided to check the sound quality against my records, which have a wonderful warm sound. I found that the sound on the suites was almost indistinguishable between the record and SACD (the only difference being that the record played a little louder at the same volume level). On the sonatas, the records sounded a touch mushy. The SACD was crisper without loosing any of the warmth. So while there may be technical problems with the CD of this recording, in my opinion the SACD has excellent sound.

Then I noticed that the SACD only included two of the three sonatas that are on the record. The beautiful G minor sonata (which is my favorite) was not included. This recording in terms of artistry and technical quality deserves 5 stars, but because of the stupid decision to exclude the G minor sonata I take away a star.

Wonderful.......2005-07-22

OK. So I'm no musician, but for my money this is superb, beautifully played and emotionally expressive.

I am quite alarmed by the reaction of some of the other reviewers here. The sound quality really is not as bad as all that (in fact it's pretty clear compared to most) and Bach's suites are brought to life in a way that I have not heard before.

Where other lesser musicians make these sound like a cold, academic exercise, Starker invests just the right amount of feeling to make this a truly emotional and rewarding experience.

Have a listen and find out for yourself. I'm sure many will disagree with me - they're just wrong!

Magnificent - But buy the 2004 SACD release.......2005-01-08

Janos Starker has recorded the Bach cello suites five times, and when asked why he has made so many, he said it was because each time he signed with a new record company, they wanted him to do another set(!) His honest, no-nonsense personality shows through in his Bach performances as well. Some claim his approach is too dry and unemotional, but after many years of listening to and playing these suites, his clarity and sense of structure keep me engaged long after I've grown tired of more visceral, "romantic" approaches. Many say this is his best set, but if you chose it, avoid at all costs the CD for sale here and buy the hybrid SACD/CD released in 2004, also available on amazon.com, even though it costs more. The reviewers below (and others) have found this CD to have been recorded a full tone sharp (ugh!). I don't know about that since I don't have it, but the 2004 SACD/CD sounds right on pitch to me.

Epochal performance, poor remastering.......2003-12-19

The reviewer below expresses it best. Starker's Mercury set of the suites is, for most cellists, the gold standard. Technically speaking, they are flawless. Artistically speaking there is laser-beam musical understanding that arcs the entire recording. The later RCA recording is even deeper in understanding, but Starker's Bach is akin to Gould's in this regard: you want both the earlier and the later -- they are both that great.

What a shame then that shoddy remastering has put these disks into the realm of the unlistenable. Anyone who is intimate with these pieces will notice immediately (as the prior reviewer did) that they are sharp. It is so distracting that I cannot bear to put the disk in the player. A next to criminal moment in the rush to cash in on the LP to CD bonanza!

Performance: 5+ Stars; remastering: 0 Stars.

simply not very good.......2002-04-06

I saw this CD set in a used music store at $5.99, and naturally thought I was getting a great buy. Frankly, I wish I could get my money back. Of all the recordings of the suites that I've heard by big-name cellists, this is by far the weakest.

Judging purely from a standpoint of cello technique, Janos Starker was certainly once the world's greatest cellist, and this virtuosity shows in the technical passagework of the 6th suite, originally written for a 5-string instrument but played by Starker (and most cellists) on only 4. But there is far more to Bach's cello suites than technical skill. Starker's sound is very dry and often thin (and not just because of poor remastering), and his interpretation is extremely odd to say the least. He has the tendency to take time and make phrase endings in places where neither the melodic nor harmonic line call for them. He often chooses not to vibrate certain notes, seemingly arbitrarily. And he clearly has no concept of the piece as a polyphonic work, trying (and often failing) to make smooth melodic lines when there are none to be found.

Tracks:

The Gamba Sonatas: No. 1 In G Major: I. Adagio - Allegro ma non troppo
The Gamba Sonatas: No. 1 In G Major: II. Andante
The Gamba Sonatas: No. 1 In G Major: III. Allegro moderato
The Gamba Sonatas: No 2 In D Major: I. Adagio - Allegro
The Gamba Sonatas: No 2 In D Major: II. Andante
The Gamba Sonatas: No 2 In D Major: III. Allegro
The Gamba Sonatas: No. 3 In G Minor: I. Vivace
The Gamba Sonatas: No. 3 In G Minor: II. Adagio
The Gamba Sonatas: No. 3 In G Minor: III. Allegro
The Gambos Sonatas: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major: I. Allegro
The Gambos Sonatas: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major: II. Andante
The Gambos Sonatas: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major: III. Presto

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

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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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]

Bach: Suites for Solo Cello; Sonatas in G & D Major [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

Great sound quality, but where's the G minor sonata?

Bach: Suites for Solo Cello; Sonatas in G & D Major [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Dvorák Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104; Bruch Kol Nidrei; Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme / Dorati, Starker, London Symphony Orchestra (3-Channel and Stereo Hybrid SACD)
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale [Hybrid SACD]
Stravinsky: The Firebird (Complete Ballet); Fireworks [Hybrid SACD]
Bach: The Four Great Toccatas and Fugues [SACD]
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3 [Hybrid SACD]

ASIN: B0001BPPNA
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Customer Reviews:

Great sound quality, but where's the G minor sonata?.......2006-12-02

Recently, I have been replacing my very favorite classical records with CD's. I've always loved my Mercury records of Bach Cello Suites, played by Starker, so decided to purchase the CD. I also have the record of the Cello Sonatas with Starker & Sebok, which are equally wonderful. I decided to purchase the SACD of this recoding because it also included the Sonata set, or so I thought. If I only wanted the suites I probably would have bought the RCA Victor set based on the reviews here.

Upon receiving this SACD, I decided to check the sound quality against my records, which have a wonderful warm sound. I found that the sound on the suites was almost indistinguishable between the record and SACD (the only difference being that the record played a little louder at the same volume level). On the sonatas, the records sounded a touch mushy. The SACD was crisper without loosing any of the warmth.

Than I noticed that the SACD only included two of the three sonatas that are on the record. The beautiful G minor sonata (which is my favorite) was not included. This recording in terms of artistry and technical quality deserves 5 stars, but because of the stupid decision to exclude the G minor sonata I take away a star

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