Customer Reviews

Bach: Inventions and Sinfonias (Complete)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Janos Sebestyen plays these study pieces clearly, crisply, and cleanly. The tempi are nicely set, and his delicate use of rhythms sounds as though he is playing on the harpsichord. Included on this album are a few selections from the notebook Bach made for his second wife Anna Magdalena, including that perennially charming Minuet in G, Anh. 114.

Janos has an effortless way of playing, although he misses out on the more deliacte nuances found in other recordings. More interesting recordings are Glenn Gould (intoxicating) or Andras Schiff (featherlight and bouncy).

A Bonus is several pieces from Mary Magdelina's famous Notebook (Bach's Second Wife's book of beginning pieces of which most piano students have played for centuries) which the artist plays with great command. It is rare to hear great pianists play these kind of supposedly simplistic pieces that Bach evidently composed for his several genius sons and other children of which he had 20!

This is a perfect recording if you are studying the Bach Inventions and Sinfonias. I am currently a Music Major, and I'm using it to study Counterpoint in Theory. Just remember that Bach's music (dynamics and ornamentation) can be interpreted several ways. Also, there were no actual recordings of Bach... This pianist, however, is fantastic.

Sebestyen's rendering of Bach is very clean and precise, something which is very important in contrapuntal compositions. However, I must level one critique against the performance on this CD. It seems a bit too "laid-back" and carefree at times. In my humble opinion, I wish he would have a bit more passion and nuance in dynamics and punctuation. Nevertheless, his crisp style does do much to show the beauty of Bach's work. A further positive note is the inclusion of Minuet in G Minor, BWV Anh. 115, a simple, yet rich, Minuet that I have had some difficulty finding next to its Major counterpart. Overall, at its low price, I must thoroughly suggest this collection because it is executed well, albeit a bit dispassionate.