J.S. Bach: 6 Keyboard Partitas

Editorial Reviews
The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs
"In terms of sheer sound it is among the most satisfactory available versions..."

J.S. Bach: 6 Keyboard Partitas, Music, J.S. Bach, Gustav Leonhardt (Harpsichord), Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Composers
J.S. Bach: 6 Keyboard Partitas
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Glorious harpsichord playing, but no repeats
J.S. Bach: 6 Keyboard Partitas
J.S. Bach , and Gustav Leonhardt (Harpsichord)
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Johann Sebastian Bach: Inventions, BWV 772-786 & Sinfonias, BWV 787-801 - Gustav Leonhardt

ASIN: B00018ZRY0
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Glorious harpsichord playing, but no repeats.......2004-09-15

This set of Bach's 'Opus 1', i. e. his six 'partitas' each consisting of an introduction and then five or six dance movements, was recorded by EMI in 1986 and was, in fact, Leonhardt's second recording of this particular masterpiece. There are two sides to my evaluation. First, the positive side: this is an immaculate piece of playing and engineering. I have seldom heard such a crisp, clear-cut recording of a harpsichord, and there are few instruments that please the ear so much as this one, made by William Dowd of Paris as a copy of an 18th century German original from Berlin. The sound is absolutely delightful, and I find myself looking forward to hearing the discs over and over again. Leonhardt had, by this time, abandoned the austerity of style which some critics attributed to him, and his playing is masterfully controlled, his ornamentation highly suggestive but never overdone.

The other side of the coin is the fact that Leonhardt, for some reason known only to himself, decided here to do without all the repeats. Not one single repeat is included! Thus a total playing time of around 95 minutes - too short for a budget re-release on 2 Cds and up to 50 minutes (!) shorter than some of his competitors with the same repertoire. This decision to omit the repeats is not mentioned in the notes, as it should have been. And if EMI/Virgin were going to re-release this disc, they could easily have added another work as an 'encore' (some 2-CD boxes have around 150 minutes of music on them!).

In sum: Some beautiful playing with glorious harpsichord sound, but not good value for money and with a somewhat laissez-faire attitude towards Bach's intentions.
Vladimir Feltsman. J.S. Bach  Six Partitas / Two Part Inventions (2 CDs)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Vladimir Feltsman. J.S. Bach Six Partitas / Two Part Inventions (2 CDs)

    Manufacturer: Urtext Records (Import)
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. Bach: Goldberg Variations

    ASIN: B00006JKGA
    Release Date: 2002-10-01
    J. S. Bach: The Six Partitas
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      J. S. Bach: The Six Partitas

      Manufacturer: Signum UK
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      All Works by J.S. BachAll Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
      ASIN: B00003NHBT
      Release Date: 1999-12-15
      The Six Partitas for Clavier
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        The Six Partitas for Clavier

        Manufacturer: Independent
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        All Works by J.S. BachAll Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
        SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
        ClassicalClassical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
        ASIN: B000772H0M
        Release Date: 2004-10-30

        Tracks:

        1. Partita #1: Prealudium
        2. Partita #1: Allemande
        3. Partita #1: Courante
        4. Partita #1: Sarabande
        5. Partita #1: Menuet
        6. Partita #1: Gigue
        7. Partita #4: Overture
        8. Partita #4: Allemande
        9. Partita #4: Courante
        10. Partita #4: Air
        11. Partita #4: Sarabande
        12. Partita #4: Menuet
        13. Partita #4: Gigue
        14. Partita #2: Sinfonia
        15. Partita #2: Allemande
        16. Partita #2: Courante
        17. Partita #2: Sarabande
        18. Partita #2: Rondeaux
        19. Partita #2: Capriccio
        20. Partita #3: Fantasia
        21. Partita #3: Allemande
        22. Partita #3: Courante
        23. Partita #3: Sarabande
        24. Partita #3: Burlesca
        25. Partita #3: Scherzo
        26. Partita #3: Gigue
        27. Partita #6: Toccata
        28. Partita #6: Allemande
        29. Partita #6: Courante
        30. Partita #6: Air
        31. Partita #6: Sarabande
        32. Partita #6: Tempo Di Gavotta
        33. Partita #6: Gigue
        34. Partita #5: Prealudium
        35. Partita #5: Allemande
        36. Partita #5: Courante
        37. Partita #5: Sarabande
        38. Partita #5: Tempo Di Minuetta
        39. Partita #5: Passepied
        40. Partita #5: Gigue

        Album Description

        The complete J.S. Bach Partitas on this 2 CD's album, performed with grace, elegance and style...

        Track Listings:

        1. Johannes Brahms (NY Philomusica)
        2. Josef Gabriel Rheinberger: Motets, Masses & Hymns
        3. LISA DELLA CASA : Sings Richard Strauss
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        5. Long Night [CD-single]
        6. Love Songs, Vol. 2
        7. Mahler: Symphony No. 9; No. 10 Adagio
        8. Maria Callas - The 1958 Los Angeles Concert / Puccini, Rossini, et al [Live]
        9. Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time; Bartók: Contrasts
        10. Mozart - Die Zauberflöte / Streit · Bonney · Jo · Cachemaille · Sigmundsson · Hagegard · Drottningholm Court Theatre · Östman

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