Rough Guide Bach / Angela Hewitt, Piano And Numerous Other Artists

Larry K.
Reviewed 2011-12-04

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) led a rich, complex and stressful life, well worth reading about (see, Gaines, J. Evening in the Palace of Reason). He composed in every Baroque genre except opera – joyful concertos, sonatas for violin and for cello, a cantata for every Sunday, cycles of piano music, rich organ pieces, orchestral works. He was a famous improviser in his day and perhaps the greatest master of polyphony ever. His music was lost after his death until it was revived by Mendelssohn in the 1840s. Bach remains the greatest of composers, whose voices, like those created by Shakespeare, range across the human spirit. Tracks especially well known or captivating are asterisked.
Jazz, Blues and World audiences will also welcome these gems.

1. *CD 1: (2:25) Cello Suite No. 1 In G Major, Bwv 1007. A melody that speaks to the soul. Play it once and you must hear it again.
2. (9:05) Orchestral Suite No. 1 In C Major, Bwv 10 Overture. A richly orchestrated stately dance.
3. *(3:48) Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major, Bwv 10. The famous “Air on the G string,” a great tune for evening.
4. (3:45) Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major, Bwv 10. Horns a plenty with prancing strings.
5. (1:06) Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major, Bwv 10. Up-tempo celebratory horns and strings.
6. (2:31) Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major, Bwv 10. Lo, the king and court arrive in procession.
7. (5:10) Lobet Den Herrn (Praise The Lord) Bwv 23. The spirit of praise is clearly heard in this choral work.
8. (1:23) Lobet Den Herrn (Praise The Lord) Bwv 23. We have much to be thankful for.
9. *(2:07) The Well Tempered Klavier, Bk 1, Prelude In C Major. A mind in repose.
10. *(1:53) The Well Tempered Klavier, Bk 1, Fugue In C Major. Puzzle solving is fun.
11. (1:30) The Well Tempered Klavier, Bk 1, Prelude In C Minor. A mind agitated.
12. (1:42) The Well Tempered Klavier. Bk 1, Fugue In C Minor. Philosophical puzzles are a bit more trying, but manageable.
13. (6:30) Concerto In C Major For Three Harpsichords And Strings. Striding along past country oaks into crowded village lanes.
14. (6:34) Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F Major. Menuet - Trio I - Polonaise – Trio II. Courtiers dance the minuet to uplifting, rich orchestration before a lovely bassoon, clarinet, oboe interlude.
15. (9:47) Schlummert Ein, Ihf Matten Augen, Aria Cantata Bwv 82. A soprano floats above walking-pace minor harmonies.
16. *(4:12) Wachet Auf. . . Sleepers Awake. Organ choral prelude, familiar and well-loved melody, with counterpoint.
17. *CD 2: (6:53) Chromatic Fantasia And Fugue In D Minor, Bwv 903. Thrilling, virtuoso tour of the keyboard in minor key runs and arpeggios, then introspective questioning and ultimately, virtuoso, and pained commentary.
18. *(5:09) Chromatic Fantasia And Fugue In D Minor, Bwv 903. A lovely melody richly, intensely embellished in fugal forms.
19. (6:49) Toccata In E Minor, Bwv 914. A refined, minor key conversation, a pleasure to overhear, with a questioning quiet interlude, then Bach’s uniquely pleasing harmonies explode.
20. *(3:42) Italian Concerto In F Major Bwv 971 I. Most happy. (Note, this concerto is for solo keyboard).
21. (5:38) Italian Concerto In F Major, Bwv 971 Ii Andante. Quite sad, with soprano relating the story.
22. *(3:28) Italian Concerto In F Major, Bwv 971, Iii Presto. Energetic pleasure, exuberance. Tell everyone.
23. (2:52) French Suite No. 5 In G Major, Bwv 816 I Allemande. The dancers form a line of couples in this serious dance form.
24. (1:37) French Suite No. 5 In G Major, Bwv 816, Ii Courante. Very rapid.
25. (5:11) French Suite No. 5 In G Major, Bwv 816, Iii Sarabande. Slow, stately, measured.
26. *(1:13) French Suite No. 5 In G Major, Bwv 816, Iv Gavotte. A light, skipping dance.
27. (1:18) French Suite No. 5 In G Major, Bwv 816, V Bourree. A dance in quick double time.
28. (2:09) French Suite No. 5 In G Major, Bwv 816, Vi Loure. A slow dance, with some syncopation.
29. (3:37) French Suite No. 5 In G Major, Bwv 816, Vii. Gigue. Gaiety, this one lifts the spirits
30. (2:04) Partita No. 3 In A Minor, Bwv 827, I. Fantasia. A complex story is adumbrated, with decorative hints.
31. (2:58) Partita No. 3 in A Minor, Bwv 827, II Allemande. Slow dance, minor key.
32. (3:09) Partita No. 3 In A Minor, Bwv 827 Iii. Corrente. Moderate pace, ascending, minor key melodic line
33. (3:56) Partita No. 3 In A Minor, Bwv 827, Iv. Sarabande. Stately, delicately sad.
34. (2:18) Partita No. 3 In A Minor, Bwv 827 V. Burlesca. Antics and high jinks, albeit in a minor key.
35. (1:11) Partita No. 3 In A Minor, Bwv 827 Vi. Scherzo. Serious play, take your lessons to heart sayeth the teacher.
36. (3:25) Partita No. 3 In A Minor, Bwv 827 Vii. Gigue. A triple time romp in the woods round the castle.
37. *(2:40) Goldberg Variations: Aria Mit Verschiedenen Verand. A melody aimed at soothing sleepless nights.