Customer Reviews

Bach - The Orchestral Suites / Rousset, AAM, Hogwood

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

 

 

This recording should be concidered
a historical performance, done with
historical acurracy. The four orchestral
suites by Bach as the composer himself
might of heard them.The only other group
that matches the Academy's brilliant
performances is Jordi Savall's Concert
des Nations. This recording also
include two Harpsichord Concertos by Bach
the BWV 1060 and 1062. Since all of Bach's
Harpasichord Concerto are really arregements of
other works, 1062 is an arrengement of Bach's
Concerto for two violins.Wonderful recording and
great historical accurracy.

Having just attended a performance of Orchestral Suite No.4 In D Major, I was delighted to hear this historical performance.

The period instruments certainly lend a different quality than the more modern sounds. One has to appreciate the difference that Bach had at the time with instrumentation. Immediately after performing this Bach, the symphony played Beethoven's Ninth. The change in instruments in remarkable and thus the sound!

What could Bach have done with this?

What is relevant though is this fine performance of these first performed likely at Cothen by the Collegium musicum. There is such a variety in them, dance, choir like instrumentation, etc.

Marvelous conducting by Hogwood of the distinguished Academy of Ancient Music. I'm so fond of the wonderful harpsichord work done here brilliantly by Rousset and Hogwood.

Great value and quality.

These are the best recordings of the Orchestral Suites that I've heard. Hogwood excercises exceptional control over his ensemble, as well as keeping the tempos at a musically pleasing level. As a side note, whomever the timpanist is ought to be commended! A great value, a great buy!

This album is the best choice for Orchestral Suites of Bach. As always, the ancient music style of Hogwood gives so fast rythm that even novice of classical music can enjoy this album without being boring. Don't miss this album.

Few creative minds belong in the same category of Johann Sebastian Bach, a composer who far outshone all musicians before his time and if equaled by any of his followers, it's by only one or two. Everyone recognizes this. However, it's hardly this simple when it comes to agreeing how his music should be played. With this Hogwood set of the orchestral suites, we land right in the center of controversy. Feelings are strong on both sides, almost violently so. Should Bach's music be performed on instruments from Bach's time, played with the same tuning and style that we reckon was in place then? Or should we take advantage of the developments that have taken place since then and use instruments from the modern symphony orchestra?

Hogwood is one of the leading proponents of the period camp. He founded the Academy of Ancient Music, heard here "on authentic instruments", as the liner notes inform us. Those new to the HIP (Historically Informed Performance) movement may notice that the pitch of the musicians sounds much different. Believe me; it's somehow better than it sounds. It's the authentic pitch, attempting to imitate the sound produced in Baroque times. So it's with scaled down forces and a new (or old, rather) method of pitching that we approach this set.

What's instantly noticeable is that this environment creates a homely feel. The music is stripped of all ostentation and the listener will want to snuggle up in a cozy chair and perhaps take a nap. When the guests come over for supper, this music will not stand in the way of civil discussion, even at a moderately high volume. There's plenty of elegance, and even more daintiness. For those who believe that Bach was a composer who wrote music primarily to put people to sleep, we've probably found the gold standard. I certainly don't know how one could find Bach played with much less vigor.

And for me, that is the problem with this disc. Some will accept the Hogwood argument and if you choose to, that's very fine. But for me, the complete and utter absence of drama isn't desirable. Stressing form over substance, it seems Hogwood has lost vitality. Sure, it documents all the historical background of Bach but is that what you really want in your music? Shouldn't there be more?

Lest it be thought that I'm set against the whole idea of period performance, I'm not. I'm opposed to the idea of it being used as an end in itself. In my mind, that's what Hogwood represents, at least on this disc. Some conductors have been able to use the period practice method as a vehicle to achieve something extra-special. (Nikolaus Harnoncourt comes to mind.)

In closing, this is a fine disc for lovers of historical performance methods. It will also make phenomenal background music. But as far as music to touch the soul, it doesn't do much. For me, it's important that the music I listen to be life changing or nearly so. If you disagree, again that's your choice and a legitimate one.

There are many fine recordings of these Orchestral suites, but most are really terrible with the audio quality. This one is not only a great performance, but the audio quality is fantastic.

I actually found this a bit too conservative of a performance for my tastes. It's technically all there, but there is no real emotion in the piece. These suites in live performance sing, leaping off the stage with emotion and power. Here, all that seems to have been sacrificed for correctness. As background music, it is fine, but look elsewhere if you want to experience the emotional power of these works.