So glad for the shout-out to Angela Hewitt! I still prefer the sheer idiosyncrasy of the 1955 Gould on the Goldbergs - that is really like nothing else - but for the Well-Tempered Klavier, Hewitt is my all-time favourite. Many years ago I was lucky enough to hear her perform some of it live, and that is still one of the greatest concerts of my memory.
You didn't mention my top Bach piece of all, namely the B-Minor Mass; boringly, my favourite recording of it is John Eliot Gardiner, which is hardly an innovative choice - but it is an amazing recording!
Oh - and since this is a blog for the "common reader" as well as the listener, I always loved the account of the "invention" of Bach in Douglas Adams's "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency". I won't spoil the joke for those who don't know the book, though ...
So glad you mentioned Yo-Yo Ma's recordings of the solo cello suites. My wife and I have listened to those more than any other recording of anything. Never gets old.
I love Bach and understand what you said about Yo-Yo Ma, but for me his simple (!) cello renditions make my hair stand on end - it never ceases to give me chills.
Fantasia similarly obsessed me as a child, especially the Stokowski Bach. The violin partitas and sonatas are the apex pieces for me. I grew up hearing my dad play them and they are a rich source of connection to him since his death. A deep regret is that I had videos of him playing them that a flaky ex-boyfriend lost.
Interesting to hear but the chaconne piano arrangement Grimaud plays in that video doesn't do it for me. I'd love it if anyone has a recommendation for another piano arrangement. Any of the violin pieces actually.
Thank you for this🎶! Glenn Gould and Angela Hewitt - both Canadian - bring widely different sensibilities to Bach. Gould is woven into Canada’s identity as a country. (Yes, I am Canadian.) One I would add is Murray Perahia’s recordings of the Partitas. They are less technically “baroque” in style; Perahia’s are lush and gorgeous. I am a late bloomer at the piano, taking it up as an adult. I am tackling various Partitas and Perahia’s ethereal touch is guiding me.
It is fun and humbling! I am a physician who nearly succumbed to Covid while working the front lines. It essentially ended my career. I have, over the past few years, struggled to find meaning in life and also find ways to try to repair some damage done to my body and my brain. My great love of the arts has been – along with my family – my salvation. Nothing is better to try to heal your brain and your soul than art - and so the challenge of tackling Bach! Love what you do, Henry.
Thank you for reminding us of that old friend Bach who never fails to meet us whatever stretch of life’s road we are on. I am partial to Wanda Wiłkomirska’s Music For Unaccompanied Violin - Sonata No. 1; Partita No. 2.
Dear Henry, while I consider your love for JS Bach a natural desire of classical music, it should lead you to Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. He was behind the Bach revival in Leipzig in the first half of the 19th century. FMB financed from his own pocket the statue of the great composer which is positioned in front of the St. Thomas Kirche in town, where JSB was a kappelmeister. Then without noticing it, this will take you to Mendelssohn's Strings Octet op.20, which according to Isaac Stern, is one of the miracles of the classical music. Tout se tient !
Thank you. This is personally valuable. Guidance and joy. My all time favorite: Pablo Casal Cello Sonata. I was also obsessed with Fantasia and still enjoy it.
When I think about Bach (which is seldom now), I think about the remarkable combination of numerous composition for children and music. What went first? I remember listening to Bach in various conditions. The best was with Sviatoslav Richter. The second was in the Petersburg Catholic Church, where we went specifically for Bach, and at home, but that was a long time ago. Thank you so much for my awakening to Bach.
Bach is my all-time favorite (I’m a professional cellist). I do tend to prefer recordings with more historical performance practice over some of the heavily romanticized recordings of the mid-20th century. But a day with Bach in it is a better day.
Forgive my butting in, but for a more HIP-oriented box set, you might enjoy Richard Tunnicliffe. I heard him do the whole cycle at King's Place a while back, and of course I bought the full box. For the violin sonatas and partitas, I absolutely love Rachel Podger (her Biber Rosary sonatas are also lovely if you would like a break from Bach).
Wow! Thanks for this - I like a bit of Bach, but can't find my way around very well - My room is full of the Gardiner Motets now, and I shall be working through the rest of your recommendations over the next few weeks
What a delightful post! I, as a classical piano student myself, feel compelled to further recommend Maria Tipo's Bach partitas, and Sviatoslav Richter's Well-tempered Clavier. I admit that I personally am not to partial to Gould, I agree that he is an absolute genius, but his playing is more innovative than beautiful, to me. Thanks again for a fantastic post.
Oh, also, if you haven't listen to Gould's Goldberg variations (the 1981 recording specifically) I think it is his best recording, personally. You can actually hear him humming along at times, which is something my brother and I do unconsciously when we play, so it makes me smile. Also, I recently started to listen to Sara Daneshpour, who I must recommend her Bach, it is groundbreaking.
So glad for the shout-out to Angela Hewitt! I still prefer the sheer idiosyncrasy of the 1955 Gould on the Goldbergs - that is really like nothing else - but for the Well-Tempered Klavier, Hewitt is my all-time favourite. Many years ago I was lucky enough to hear her perform some of it live, and that is still one of the greatest concerts of my memory.
You didn't mention my top Bach piece of all, namely the B-Minor Mass; boringly, my favourite recording of it is John Eliot Gardiner, which is hardly an innovative choice - but it is an amazing recording!
Auntie Angela is such a beautiful and confident player. Love her collections.
Really love Schiff’s 2 & 3 Part Inventions. Also Perahia and Richard Goode have some lovely recordings.
Ah I don’t know the Schiff will try it thanks
Oh - and since this is a blog for the "common reader" as well as the listener, I always loved the account of the "invention" of Bach in Douglas Adams's "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency". I won't spoil the joke for those who don't know the book, though ...
Agree about the Mass and Gardiner but I can’t find a way to love it in the same way. I do love the St Matthew passion v much.
Thankful for guidance on how to move beyond Yo Yo Ma's Bach cello suites, which I have loved for many years.
So glad you mentioned Yo-Yo Ma's recordings of the solo cello suites. My wife and I have listened to those more than any other recording of anything. Never gets old.
Good stuff
I love Bach and understand what you said about Yo-Yo Ma, but for me his simple (!) cello renditions make my hair stand on end - it never ceases to give me chills.
Fantasia similarly obsessed me as a child, especially the Stokowski Bach. The violin partitas and sonatas are the apex pieces for me. I grew up hearing my dad play them and they are a rich source of connection to him since his death. A deep regret is that I had videos of him playing them that a flaky ex-boyfriend lost.
Interesting to hear but the chaconne piano arrangement Grimaud plays in that video doesn't do it for me. I'd love it if anyone has a recommendation for another piano arrangement. Any of the violin pieces actually.
Thank you, Henry. Yes to all of the above, particularly the Gould observations.
Here's a poem about that.
BWV 988
Bach as a spell against the new day and rain.
Goldberg Variations stream down the open window.
Notes to a cascade mind, scribbled in shallows
as if God finally unlocked his Wunderkabinett
crammed with miscalculations and tiny vastnesses
for a last shot at something great.
And Bach thanked him for the hefty commission.
Then Glen Gould hid away
with late summer storms, tape decks and Thorazine,
his seat always exactly 14 inches off the floor.
The needle skips where it always skips.
Next door’s baby starts to wail as footsteps recede
down the corridor and the lifts ping in unison.
Someone’s frying bacon like they’ve found the answer.
Impeccable taste, Henry. Looking forward to publishing our conversation tomorrow!
🥳
Thank you for this🎶! Glenn Gould and Angela Hewitt - both Canadian - bring widely different sensibilities to Bach. Gould is woven into Canada’s identity as a country. (Yes, I am Canadian.) One I would add is Murray Perahia’s recordings of the Partitas. They are less technically “baroque” in style; Perahia’s are lush and gorgeous. I am a late bloomer at the piano, taking it up as an adult. I am tackling various Partitas and Perahia’s ethereal touch is guiding me.
Oh excellent that must be so much fun
It is fun and humbling! I am a physician who nearly succumbed to Covid while working the front lines. It essentially ended my career. I have, over the past few years, struggled to find meaning in life and also find ways to try to repair some damage done to my body and my brain. My great love of the arts has been – along with my family – my salvation. Nothing is better to try to heal your brain and your soul than art - and so the challenge of tackling Bach! Love what you do, Henry.
Oh gosh I’m so pleased you found your way forward!
Thank you for reminding us of that old friend Bach who never fails to meet us whatever stretch of life’s road we are on. I am partial to Wanda Wiłkomirska’s Music For Unaccompanied Violin - Sonata No. 1; Partita No. 2.
Dear Henry, while I consider your love for JS Bach a natural desire of classical music, it should lead you to Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. He was behind the Bach revival in Leipzig in the first half of the 19th century. FMB financed from his own pocket the statue of the great composer which is positioned in front of the St. Thomas Kirche in town, where JSB was a kappelmeister. Then without noticing it, this will take you to Mendelssohn's Strings Octet op.20, which according to Isaac Stern, is one of the miracles of the classical music. Tout se tient !
Thank you. This is personally valuable. Guidance and joy. My all time favorite: Pablo Casal Cello Sonata. I was also obsessed with Fantasia and still enjoy it.
When I think about Bach (which is seldom now), I think about the remarkable combination of numerous composition for children and music. What went first? I remember listening to Bach in various conditions. The best was with Sviatoslav Richter. The second was in the Petersburg Catholic Church, where we went specifically for Bach, and at home, but that was a long time ago. Thank you so much for my awakening to Bach.
Thank you, Henry Oliver!
This was great
Nothing like bach on a Sunday morning or anytime really.
Bach is my all-time favorite (I’m a professional cellist). I do tend to prefer recordings with more historical performance practice over some of the heavily romanticized recordings of the mid-20th century. But a day with Bach in it is a better day.
Which ones do you recommend?
Forgive my butting in, but for a more HIP-oriented box set, you might enjoy Richard Tunnicliffe. I heard him do the whole cycle at King's Place a while back, and of course I bought the full box. For the violin sonatas and partitas, I absolutely love Rachel Podger (her Biber Rosary sonatas are also lovely if you would like a break from Bach).
Thanks! Appreciated
Wow! Thanks for this - I like a bit of Bach, but can't find my way around very well - My room is full of the Gardiner Motets now, and I shall be working through the rest of your recommendations over the next few weeks
Nice!
What a delightful post! I, as a classical piano student myself, feel compelled to further recommend Maria Tipo's Bach partitas, and Sviatoslav Richter's Well-tempered Clavier. I admit that I personally am not to partial to Gould, I agree that he is an absolute genius, but his playing is more innovative than beautiful, to me. Thanks again for a fantastic post.
Oh I don’t know Tipo, thanks, shall start listening!
Oh, also, if you haven't listen to Gould's Goldberg variations (the 1981 recording specifically) I think it is his best recording, personally. You can actually hear him humming along at times, which is something my brother and I do unconsciously when we play, so it makes me smile. Also, I recently started to listen to Sara Daneshpour, who I must recommend her Bach, it is groundbreaking.