What better music is there.....

Post by **Dale** » Tue May 10, 2005 8:30 pm

....than Bach's Goldberg Variations?

thurlowe · Post by **thurlowe** » Tue May 10, 2005 8:43 pm

Who's playing?

Post by **Nanohedron** » Tue May 10, 2005 8:48 pm

Could you post an ABC?

rh · Post by rh » Tue May 10, 2005 8:48 pm

that's tough to beat, for sure.

Post by **Dale** » Tue May 10, 2005 9:00 pm

thurlowe wrote:Who's playing?

1) Glenn Gould, of course. (Both recordings.)
2) Keith Jarrett, harpsichord.

Post by **Dale** » Tue May 10, 2005 9:01 pm

Nanohedron wrote:Could you post an ABC?

Here's the whole deal in midi:

http://www.jsbach.net/midi/midi_goldbergvariations.html

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Tue May 10, 2005 9:08 pm

Hmmm....if I remember my Thomas Harris correctly, Dale and Hannibal Lector share more than an occupation...they also have similar taste in music.

--James

izzarina · Post by **izzarina** » Tue May 10, 2005 9:09 pm

DaleWisely wrote:....than Bach's Goldberg Variations?

in that genre, there's nothing better (at least IMHO

). Bach is my favorite composer.

Post by **Dale** » Tue May 10, 2005 9:15 pm

peeplj wrote:Hmmm....if I remember my Thomas Harris correctly, Dale and Hannibal Lector share more than an occupation...they also have similar taste in music.

--James

Yes, I like to listen to the Goldberg Variations with a dish of fava beans and a nice chiati.

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Tue May 10, 2005 9:38 pm

thurlowe wrote:Who's playing?

To get my vote it would have to be Rosalyn Tureck. Hers is the version I always come back to.

Paul Thomas · Post by **Paul Thomas** » Tue May 10, 2005 10:38 pm

DaleWisely wrote:1) Glenn Gould, of course. (Both recordings.)

Preach, brother, preach!

1 bottle red wine + 1 uninterrupted session listening = altered states (in a good way, not the funky, monkey way. That's a different formula...)

However, 1 score + 1 uninterrupted session listening = despair of ever really playing a truly clean line.

Gould has gone through enough "fashion" cycles that I think one can listen to him for his qualities without needing to defend the perceived eccentricities. What's more puzzling is why the variations are so good, and the WTC so uneven.

2) Keith Jarrett, harpsichord.

The appeal of Keith Jarrett usually escapes me. I'd be curious to know what you like about his rendition. I can appreciate his contribution, if not his improvisations/compositions, esp. for bringing the clavichord to the attention of many listeners. That is the instrument on which to learn: after experiencing vibrato on a keyboard, the piano seems like such a mechanical, industrial beast - such a...a machine. Antidote? Listen to Gould again.

Post by **Dale** » Tue May 10, 2005 11:22 pm

The appeal of Keith Jarrett usually escapes me. I'd be curious to know what you like about his rendition. I can appreciate his contribution, if not his improvisations/compositions, esp. for bringing the clavichord to the attention of many listeners. That is the instrument on which to learn: after experiencing vibrato on a keyboard, the piano seems like such a mechanical, industrial beast - such a...a machine. Antidote? Listen to Gould again.

Well, I was listening to the Keith Jarrett version when I started this thread. I do like it, although the Glenn Gould 1982 recording is the one I go back to.

I've been a fan of Keith Jarrett's work for nearly 30 years. I'm not sure I can explain the appeal. I think he's got one of the best left hands in the business. In the improvisational work, which is actually what I appreciate the most, there's a kind of blend of gospel, classical, and jazz elements that really works for me.

The Sporting Pitchfork · Wed May 11, 2005 1:20 am

Aaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!! But which recording of Gould? Hmmmm?????! The original 1955 "turborcharged" version that listeners love and Bach aficionados love to hate or the slightly more subdued 1981 version?

The Keith Jarrett version is also quite nice, but I also recently heard a recording of Goldberg by Pierre Hantai that was made a couple of years ago and that just might be my new favorite.

PS--Those of you who dig Bach MUST check out Christopher Hogwood's album "The Secret Bach," (Metronome MET CD 1056) a recording of lesser-known fugues, menuets, and partitas by Bach intended for (and performed on) the clavichord. Listening to Bach almost makes me have a little faith in humanity again...

Matt_Paris · Post by **Matt_Paris** » Wed May 11, 2005 2:13 am

D'oh!! I wanted to talk about Pierre Hantaï, but M. Pitchfork was quicker!

My own personnal favorite would probably be the Bach's lute pieces by Hopkinson Smith.

Or the A minor solo flute partita. Does anybody know any good version? The partition fascinates me for years, but I have never heard any player who would approach my dreams...

amar · Post by **amar** » Wed May 11, 2005 2:47 am

DaleWisely wrote:
thurlowe wrote:Who's playing?
1) Glenn Gould, of course. (Both recordings.)
2) Keith Jarrett, harpsichord.

dale, glenn's goldberg variations of 1983 is my all time favorite classical piece of music.

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What better music is there.....

What better music is there.....

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