J. S. Bach: The Six Partitas

On this CD:

1. Partita for keyboard No. 1 in B flat major, BWV 825
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Lucy Carolan

2. Partita for keyboard No. 5 in G major, BWV 829
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Lucy Carolan

3. Partita for keyboard No. 6 in E minor, BWV 830
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Lucy Carolan

4. Partita for keyboard No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Lucy Carolan

5. Partita for keyboard No. 3 in A minor, BWV 827
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Lucy Carolan

6. Partita for keyboard No. 4 in D major, BWV 828
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Lucy Carolan

Customer Reviews:

Mechanical Bach.......2006-12-17

This recording is dull. The notes are there but the spirit and beauty are missing. It is mechanical and wrong-footed.

This Deserves More Than the Five Stars Amazon Allows.......2006-08-20

I had never even heard of Craig Sheppard until I heard a sample of a recording from his complete traversal of the Beethoven sonatas, captured live in a series of recitals in Seattle where Sheppard is a professor at the University of Washington. I was bowled over by it and even more so after I got the whole set. (See my review of that set here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009IW90W/ ) I put Sheppard on my list of pianists to watch for, either in recital anywhere near where I'm located or of new releases. Well, this two-CD set of the Bach Partitas is just out and it is a pure joy. In fact, on the basis of this and the Beethoven set I have decided to automatically obtain whatever Sheppard chooses to record. There are only a few pianists who make that list.

These two CDs, available for the price of one, contain all six of Bach's keyboard partitas which comprise part I of his Klavierübung. Even though he was 46 when they were printed, they were the first of his works to be published. He published them himself with this inscription, "Keyboard practice consisting of preludes, allemandes, courantes, sarabandes, gigues, menuets and other galanteries, composed for music lovers to refresh their spirits." I must say this recording has done that for me; in fact, I had trouble starting this review because I kept going back and listening some more. It is not that I'm not familiar with the partitas -- I've played much of this music myself -- but Sheppard way with the music gave such delight that I didn't want it to stop. His manner is a genial combination of dancing rhythms, impeccable articulation (and, remember, these are live performances), great variety of touch, pulse and dynamics as well as, best of all, the intelligence, deep musicality and technique to pull this off and make it seem easy.

CD 1 contains, in this order, Partitas 3, 2 & 6; CD 2 has Partitas 5, 1 & 4. I'm not sure why this order was chosen. No matter. I found myself repeating various movements as well as picking and choosing individual movements so the order didn't much matter to me. These works were not meant by Bach to be played in any particular order, or all at once, although there are thematic cross references in the individual partitas.

Sheppard seems able to play in a manner that is somewhere between the ultra-refined style used in Bach by, say, Schiff or Perahia, and the easy, insouciant manner of Angela Hewitt. Certainly he does not use the dramatic staccato manner of Glenn Gould. He has some of the qualities of all these artists and yet makes his own statement, one I find deeply satisfying. There is a sweet musing, almost exalted, coupled with rhythmic aliveness in his playing that no one else brings to these works. The sound of his own Hamburg Steinway is one factor; it is a marvelous instrument. One has the sense that Sheppard, although playing before an audience in Seattle's Meany Auditorium, is so absorbed in the music that he is unconscious of it, and his absorption is coupled with incredible concentration, all at the service of his vision of the music. (By the way, one is not aware that this is a live recording from the sound except for brief applause at the conclusion of each Partita.)

A few highlights: I love the Toccata from the 6th Partita immoderately. It is often played either solemnly or bombastically. Sheppard plays it as an exalted improvisation with little adjustments of tempo and touch that one would expect in such a performance. In Sheppard's performance the fugal latter portion sounds made up on the spot. The concluding Capriccio of the 2nd Partita does indeed sound capricious and Sheppard emphasizes the quirky harmonic twists deliciously. The fugal Gigue of No. 6 sounds the most like Gould of anything here; this is appropriate because the main subject begs to be played staccato. Sheppard plays it at a fast pace and yet articulation is pristine -- a marvelous bravado performance of the movement that concludes the last and most grandiose of the partitas.

I had to restrain myself from getting out of my chair and dancing to the Corrente from the 3rd Partita or marching to the Scherzo of the same work (even though it's in triple time!). The Praeambulum of No. 5 flows like mountain stream -- limpid, refreshing, alive. One of my favorite of all the partita movements is the Tempo di minuetto of No. 5 with its hemiolas that Bach uses to instruct and amuse. Sheppard plays it in a delicate slightly detaché style and manages to surprise us with the metric changes every darn time. This is real musicianship!

I could go on, but I'll stop with my high praise for all of the gigues from the individual partitas. I think it is here that we hear all of Sheppard's virtues undiluted. There is no pecking or stabbing at the piano as one sometimes hears, but there is also no deadening legato. Somehow he manages to keep the rhythms and phrasing alive with minute adjustments of touch and pulse. Amazing!

This set belongs in the collection of anyone who loves these pieces, no matter what other versions they already have.

A most urgent recommendation.

[Note to self: Find and buy Sheppard's recordings of the Goldbergs, the Diabellis and his Scarlatti CD.]

Scott Morrison

J.S.Bach's Six Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin

Average customer rating:

J.S.Bach's Six Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin

Manufacturer: Celle-stial Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA2RE0
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Average customer rating:

J. S. Bach: The Six Partitas

Manufacturer: Signum UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00003NHBT
Release Date: 1999-12-15

Average customer rating:

J.S. Bach: 6 Partitas (The Six Parts)
Trevor Pinnock
Manufacturer: Archive Productions
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000E31U
Release Date: 2000-01-01

J.S. Bach: Clavier Übung I (Six Partitas BWV 825-830)

Average customer rating:

J.S. Bach: Clavier Übung I (Six Partitas BWV 825-830)

Manufacturer: Astree
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00008EQNJ
Release Date: 1993-11-02

Average customer rating:

The Six Partitas for Clavier

Manufacturer: Independent
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000772H0M
Release Date: 2004-10-30

Tracks:

Partita #1: Prealudium
Partita #1: Allemande
Partita #1: Courante
Partita #1: Sarabande
Partita #1: Menuet
Partita #1: Gigue
Partita #4: Overture
Partita #4: Allemande
Partita #4: Courante
Partita #4: Air
Partita #4: Sarabande
Partita #4: Menuet
Partita #4: Gigue
Partita #2: Sinfonia
Partita #2: Allemande
Partita #2: Courante
Partita #2: Sarabande
Partita #2: Rondeaux
Partita #2: Capriccio
Partita #3: Fantasia
Partita #3: Allemande
Partita #3: Courante
Partita #3: Sarabande
Partita #3: Burlesca
Partita #3: Scherzo
Partita #3: Gigue
Partita #6: Toccata
Partita #6: Allemande
Partita #6: Courante
Partita #6: Air
Partita #6: Sarabande
Partita #6: Tempo Di Gavotta
Partita #6: Gigue
Partita #5: Prealudium
Partita #5: Allemande
Partita #5: Courante
Partita #5: Sarabande
Partita #5: Tempo Di Minuetta
Partita #5: Passepied
Partita #5: Gigue

Album Description

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

Music Track:

Music Track

music track

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