Customer Reviews

Bach: Gamba Sonatas

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

 

 

Its amazing to realize how diverse and varied music JS Bach wrote in his lifetime (1685-1750). Originally written for the gamba and harpischord, these compositions translate well to the modern cello and piano as their sunny, pleasant sonorites attest. The last sonata by Bach's most musically innovative son, CPE Bach, is an added treat.

Having recorded all of the major keyboard works of Bach, Angela Hewitt now picks up these "minor" pieces with cellist Daniel Muller-Schott. The compositions are not necessarily "virtuostic" - like those of Beethoven - but they among the first to give more equal partnership of the keyboard beyond continuo. These sonatas brim forth with effortless melody and quality musical development that Bach was so marvelous in composing which gives them a universal appeal.

Listening to this similar-temperament pair of fine musicians play these pieces, one would be hard-pressed to find something not to like (barring a conflict with use of modern instruments for some perhaps). Both relax nicely into these works. Hewitt's Bach is well known and Muller-Schott brings an attractive, luminously coloured sound and texture to the reading. His intonation and judicious use of vibrato sounds silky smooth on the 1727 Matteo Goffriller cello he uses. It makes for wonderful, nourishing music to play often - like on a relaxing Sunday morning. And the Orfeo sound and ideal instrument balance brings them fully to life (to me the sound is better than the Hyperion sound of Hewitt's many recordings). I also like their treatment and sound environment slightly better than another modern instrument performance of Maiskey/Argerich. A beautiful CD. [55 minutes] Compositions - 4.5 stars; Performance - 5 stars; Sound quality - 5 stars.

Angela Hewitt brings everything she knows about Bach to the task of accompanying the cellist in these wonderful pieces. It's an extraordinary, beautiful dialogue. They each have so much to tell us about the piece, incredible talents to convey it, and seem to enjoy playing together. "Sunday morning Bach" is a great way to describe the unhurried tempo. The CPE Bach sonata is nice, too. This recording is worth tracking down. It's a shame that it is not available for download. I like the Angela Hewitt recording a little better than the Martha Agerich version, but they are both wonderful.

I was very disappointed in this release, mainly because I thought the recording balance put undue weight on the cello at the expense of the piano. Angela Hewitt's left hand, in particular, was nearly inaudible. This is a big problem, because the main reason I wanted to hear the work with piano instead of harpsichord was to hear Bach's fascinating base lines. The musicianship is at a high level, but the engineering ruined it for me.