It explores the intricacies of each of the 12 major and 12 minor keys and constitutes the largestscale and mostinfluential undertaking for solo keyboard of the baroque era. Johann sebastian bach 1685 1750 the well tempered clavier, book 1 00. Tom service picks ten of his essential performances that introduce you to. May 10, 2012 johann sebastian bach the well tempered clavier. The well tempered clavier book 1 scrolling youtube. Have always enjoyed the live wtc from richter, though there are elements of his studio recording which remain unsurpassed. Well tempered clavier book i by sviatoslav richter and tens of millions of other songs on all your devices with amazon music unlimited. S welltempered clavier the, book 1 jando by johann sebastian bach. The well tempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the well tempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. The two sets of 24 preludes and fugues book 1 dating from 1722 and book 2 from 1742 had pedagogical objectives. See terms and conditions for full details, including costs which may apply for the mp3 version in case of order returns or cancellatio. For example, the piece that ends the cycle of book 1, the great bminor fugue, is so chromatic and convoluted that it shocks the modern ear with its complexity.
So, this is not only a fivestar performance, but amongst the very finest that exist, and the best that i know of. The welltempered clavier, book i, preludes and fugues 18. Preludes and fugues the welltempered clavier, by j. Bach, sviatoslav richter the welltempered clavier, book 1. Glenn gould 1932 1982 bach the welltempered clavier. Ive had this 1970 richter performance of book one of bachs well tempered clavier on an rca cd set coupled with the second book for some time. With its magnificent and magisterial performances by sviatoslav richter, one would have imagined that this 1970 recording of the first book of bach s well tempered clavier would be on the shelf of everyone who reveres richter and worships bach. The well tempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742.
Here you find 3 complete recordings and several single preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by johann sebastian bach. Russian pianist sviatoslov richters performance of one of western civilizations greatest musical. The well tempered clavier is a great example of how much variety is possible to achieve in this genre. The balance between romantic playing, with considerable pedal use throughout, and gripping concentration yield a particularly special sound. From all the works written in the baroque era, no other work has been so well cherished, frequently performed and thoroughly studied than this work of bach s.
Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. Free sheet music for the complete 48 preludes and fugues of the well tempered clavier by j. The welltempered clavier book ii richter with richter, sviatoslav on cd. At the moment im leaning towards richters but feinbergs is a close second. Although recorded in 1969, it might as well have been 1939. In its whole, the well tempered clavier delves into some of the most complicated and compelling counterpoint ever written. Sviatoslav richters recording of the welltempered clavier is my favourite rendition i prefer it to even that of glenn gould. Johann sebastian bach 1685 1750 the welltempered clavier, book 1 00. Bachs welltempered clavier which collection to buy. This is the third set of the well tempered clavier i have bought. Heres a very promising start to what i assume will be a new beethoven piano concerto cycle, featuring performances not otherwise included in naxos complete beethoven box. Tom service picks ten of his essential performances that introduce you to the genius of.
You should hunt down the bootleg from munich 1990 of wtci 1 8, partita 4 and some transcriptions. Composed about 20 years apart, the two sets of 24 preludes and fugues that constitute the two books of johann sebastian bachs welltempered clavier didnt start off as one huge collection of 48 works in fact, the set of 24 preludes and fugues composed in 1742 were not issued as a sequel to the original wtc of 1722. Essential richter recordings the legendary russian pianist would have been 100 this week. Welltempered clavier, book 1, bwv846869 various arrangements play streams in full or download mp3 from classical archives, the largest and best organized classical music site on the web. Im looking at purchasing a cd of the wtc book 1 and maybe 2. Amazons choice for bach well tempered clavier book 1.
Johann sebastian bach welltempered clavier, book 1, bwv846. Here you find 3 complete recordings and several single preludes and fugues of the welltempered clavier by johann sebastian bach. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, is a collection of two sets of preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys, composed for solo keyboard by johann sebastian bach. Thank you to the reivewers on this site, and elsewhere, who pointed me in richter s glowing direction. Welltempered clavier book i bwv 846869 discography. Every time i tried to listen to it i was put off by the sound. This must be my leadin to richter s account of bach s wtc, book 1 from russian revelation. Sokolovs bach is certainly right up there though i must confess, its recently become a bit overbearing. Book 1 and book 2 of the well tempered clavier are 2cds each not full cds though, so only the 4cd set contains the complete work. I cant report that the sound quality disguises his brilliance. Richter s rca recording of well tempered klavier still remains as one of the most aweinspring recording in his entire discography, and no other pianists can match the depth and the intense beauty richter captures. Sep 23, 2012 umg on behalf of deutsche grammophon dg. S well tempered clavier the, book 1 landowska 19491951 wanda landowska, who continued to perform and record up to her death in 1959, was renowned as the greatest harpsichordist of the first half of the twentieth century, resurrecting the instrument and taking a scholarly approach to the performance of music from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Prelude and fugue b minor, bwv 869 well tempered clavier book i. Prelude b minor the benchmark interpretation of the b minor prelude comes from gulda so calm and controlled, with a very carrying bass despite almost staccato phrasing. The melchizedek software has identified it as sviatoslav richter s performance of book i from the well tempered clavier. Autorip is available only for eligible cds and vinyl sold by amazon eu sarl but does not apply to gift orders or primenow orders. Bach, the welltempered clavier, book 1 sviatoslav richter.