Bach: Book 2, The Well-Tempered Clavier

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Edwin Fischer (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Edwin Fischer
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (January 16, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B0000521CS
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #433,070 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Prld And Fugue No.1 in C, BWV 870: Prld

2. Prld And Fugue No.1 in C, BWV 870: Fugue

3. Prld And Fugue No.2 in c, BWV 871: Prld

4. Prld And Fugue No.2 in c, BWV 871: Fugue

5. Prld And Fugue No.3 in C#, BWV 872: Prld

6. Prld And Fugue No.3 in C#, BWV 872: Fugue

7. Prld And Fugue No.4 in c#, BWV 873: Prld

8. Prld And Fugue No.4 in c#, BWV 873: Fugue

9. Prld And Fugue No.5 in D, BWV 874: Prld

10. Prld And Fugue No.5 in D, BWV 874: Fugue

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Prld And Fugue No.13 in F#, BWV 882: Prld

2. Prld And Fugue No.13 in F#, BWV 882: Fugue

3. Prld And Fugue No.14 in f#, BWV 883: Prld

4. Prld And Fugue No.14 in f#, BWV 883: Fugue

5. Prld And Fugue No.15 in G, BWV 884: Prld

6. Prld And Fugue No.15 in G, BWV 884: Fugue

7. Prld And Fugue No.16 in g, BWV 885: Prld

8. Prld And Fugue No.16 in g, BWV 885: Fugue

9. Prld And Fugue No.17 in A flat, BWV 886: Prld

10. Prld And Fugue No.17 in A flat, BWV 886: Fugue

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fischer's 'New Testament', January 18, 2005

By 

J Scott Morrison (Middlebury VT, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bach: Book 2, The Well-Tempered Clavier (Audio CD)

What, nobody has reviewed this marvelous transfer of Edwin Fischer playing the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II, Bach's so-called 'New Testament'? Well, I couldn't let that pass, even though it's been, four years since it was issued. This set, along with its companion set of the Book I, has often been in my CD player. Fischer was one of the great pianists of the first half of the twentieth century and this transfer is wonderful. Only five of the Preludes and Fugues from Book II appear in the Philips 'Great Pianists of the 20th Century,' so even if you own that, you don't have the whole kahuna.

Fischer's was the first integral recording of both Books and it remains one of the great recordings of the century. Fischer's control of line and individual voices has to be heard to be believed. Further, unlike post-Gouldian Bach players, his piano seems not to have hammers. His pianissimo passages are simply ravishing. He does, at times, double the bass line as was customary in his day. This doesn't bother me at all, but I suppose some purists might sniff. We have to realize that this was a different time and for all that the advances in knowledge of historically-informed practices have grown apace, there is still a good deal of room, at least as far as I'm concerned, for playing like Fischer's. If you disagree with that, then this set is not for you. But if, like me, you respond to great playing and musicianship such as Fischer's, you won't want to be without this set and its old testament companion.

Strongly recommended.

Scott Morrison