Customer Reviews

Bach Guitar Recital

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Julian Bream is, without a doubt, one of the premiere classical guitarists of the modern recording era. Comparisons between great guitarists is often unfair and misleading as they each have their own styles - and each musician and his/her style tends to be particularly well suited to certain types of music. For example, Andres Segovia's style, cultivated by self-teaching throughout his now ended life, concentrated on flowing legatto smoothness and flowing melodies. Bream's, on the other hand, while equally masterful, is better characterized as emphasizing the precision and crispness of each and every individual note. What better composer to focus on to show this particular proclivity that J. S. Bach, whose work, having been written largely for the keyboards (harpsichord) but also for the lute and triple harp, tends to emphasize the kinds of music Bream excels at. Stacatto phrasings, each written to be played with crystalline exactness, are the types of pieces wherein Bream's magnificence is conspicuous and best showcased. Thus, the special relevance of this particular compilation of some of his best Bach work on this CD.

It includes only four major pieces - each of which has, of course, subsets/parts. The Basic pieces are all by J.S. Bach and include:
1. Prelude, Fugue and Allegro BWV998
2. Suite BWV 996
3. Chaconne from Partita BWV 1004, and
4. Parita BMV 1006a

Originally recorded in 1994 and recently re-released by EMI Classics, this CD showcases Bream's greatest abilities as a musician of chiming precision and maturity. The fact that his renditions of these pieces are unique and differ in many ways from the versions recorded by Segovia, Williams and others - render them no less excellent. Simply put, they are different. Excellence comes in many flavors! Born in 1933, he is, perhaps, the most thoroughly accomplished of living classical guitarists and it is arguable that his style represents more than a 'difference' with Segovia's musicianship - but a generational C change and progression in the interpretation of pieces such as these written, by-in-large, in the 18th century.

No matter how you see this issue, I am confident that any lover of classical guitar will enjoy (many times) this CD and Bream's highly stylized and precise renditions of some of J.S. Bach's most memorable and complex masterworks.

Julian Bream is definitely among the best musicians of the 20th century, and his performance is supreme in this recording of Bach's compositions, originally written for the lute (though still debated in the academia) and violin. If you like Bach, this CD will not disappoint you in any way. These pieces are among the most popular for the classical guitarists, and matches the sound of the guitar very well.

Bream makes this music sound like it was written for the guitar. The individuality of contrapuntal lines is extraordinary. Musically compelling interpretations. I never get tired of listening to this album.

Julian Bream has been around the longest & sometimes gets ignored in favour of some of the younger players. His playing of Bach on this CD is still head & shoulders above any of the competition. SUPERB
GEOFF KITCHING