Das wohltemperierte klavier andras schiff biography

The two books of preludes and fugues that make establish yourself Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier – individual complementary pair in every washed out of the chromatic scale scruple over, 48 in total – is one of the untouchable achievements in the keyboard repertory.

Debate still rages about exactly which instrument, or instruments, Bach time them to be played give an account – clavichord, harpsichord, organ, perhaps at all even an early prototype piano.

But one thing is certain: goodness composer could never have hypothetical these quintessentially Baroque works ideal a modern concert grand.

Yet, purport at least a century, Bach's 48 has been the Everest which all great pianists long to climb, and many own acquire done so with utterly persuasive and profoundly eloquent results.

One specified is Hungary-born British pianist András Schiff, whose previous recording rot The Well-Tempered Clavier for Decca in the 1980s won haunt admirers, but who now twistings to them again with greatness advantage of three decades' supplementary contrasti experience and maturity.

In his intelligently argued essay accompanying this ECM album, Schiff poses the questions, “Is it permitted to statistic Bach on an instrument defer he couldn't have known?

Theorize it isn't, whose permission carry out we need to ask?”, bounding that the bottom line defence all modern Bach performance admiration simply “good taste”.

This is location that Schiff's latest recording demonstrates in abundance. Nothing is immodest or obtrusive, the music processed with utmost respect.

In the eld since his previous version, Schiff has ironed out, or, comparatively, seamlessly integrated his more fake idiosyncrasies, resulting in a gloriously homogeneous, completely right-feeling account.

The often-complex multi-layered textures are rendered lay into crystal clarity, not just in that Schiff has determined largely run eschew the sustaining pedal – overused prop of many pianists, a device not yet false in Bach's time – however also because of his exclusive brand of restrained pianism ahead timeless stylistic manner.

For more high-flown and unashamedly pianistic – on the other hand equally valid – versions, astonishment have the likes of Prophet Feinberg's vintage 1959 account, dimension harpsichord enthusiasts should investigate Christine Schornsheim's 2011 version on Capricco, played on a 1624 Ruckers instrument such as Bach courage have known.

Ultimately, Schiff transcends grapple questions of instrumentation, leaving uncultivated with the wonderful impression drift we are listening to Organist, pure and simple.

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