Customer Reviews

Bach: The Six Trio Sonatas

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

 

 

I believe this is the first CD release of any of the series of wonderful albums E. Power Biggs did back in the 1960s: recordings of various J.S. Bach organ standards played on the pedal harpsichord. (Bach kept a pedal harpsichord at home for organ practice when he didn't want to go down to the church.) While the pedal harpsichord lacks the sheer power of the organ, it articulates the complex voices of Bach's music much better. Listen to a piece on the pedal harpsichord, and when you return to the organ version, your understanding and appreciation will be greatly enhanced. Biggs does a fantastic job here on Bach's trio sonatas. Now if Sony would only release the rest of those albums as well! Biggs's pedal harpsichord versions of BWV 565 and 582 are a revelation.

After E. Power Biggs' recording of the Tocatta and Preludes and fugues, this is my favorite CD.

Biggs' playing is flawless and wonderful, and the instrument excellent. The precision of the harpsichord makes an excellent version of these works; on the organ, the subtleties are often lost in the instrument's power.

This CD is the best recording of the trio sonatas around, and one of the best recordings -- period.

The Bach Trio Sonatas are among the clearest, yet most complex organ works. While many musicians have played them, including such accomplished artists as Virgil Fox, it takes the quick, light, and almost playful technique of E. Power Biggs to bring them to life.

Nowhere will you find a better rendition of these works; I doubt that Bach himself could have played them better. Mr. Biggs' understanding of every nuance is unquestioned. The result is a masterpiece, a blend of ancient music, and modern artist, on an instrument that can only be described as magical.

The Bach Trio Sonatas might make excellent dinner music, but do yourself a favor: play them in a quiet house, kick the dog out for a walk *before* you start listening, and then crank up the volume just a little bit. Be sure to let the dog back in before you start this CD - you won't want to get up to open the door.

The only unfortunate aspect of this CD is that Sony hasn't released all of Mr. Biggs works, so this CD, and the rest of his art, comes to an end much too soon.

John Drabik

The three stars are for averaging E. Power Biggs (5 stars) with Sony Essential Classics (one star). I must admit that I did not see the CD-R notice near the top of this page until now, but have always bought Columbia/Sony discs with standard stamped, aluminized and lacquered manufacture. I do not believe this format will age as well as the standard one. My first inkling that this was a CD-R was when I opened the jewel case and examined the disc for scratches or defects. I recognized this immediately as a CD-R. I then saw a miniscule label on the rear cover to this effect.

Also, there is virtually no performance information contained in the simple folded cover sheet and gives no clue as to the instrument on which the sonatas were performed. I give Sony Classics and Legacy poor marks for this packaging.

I have purchased Arkiv Music CD-R discs before knowing full well that they were CD-R formatted, but they also had the full Philips booklet included. Maybe I'll try to pick up a used copy of the original issued CD.

Buyer beware: these are played on a pedal-harpsichord.

That said, I endorse what the other reviewers have said. Biggs did a fabulous job on these masterpieces. Some of them were recycled as concerti and movements of other works. The word that comes to my mind is "bubbly". It's hard for newcomers to Bach to associate that word with this composer.

Still, I would love to hear the Biggs organ performance (first issued by CBS) of the trio sonatas played on the Harvard Busch-Reisinger organ! Gosh, how much could it cost to re-issue this on Sony?

Archimedes

I believe these sonatas were training pieces for his children, meant to develop their skills playing 3 melodies at once. They were written for Pedal Harpsichord not organ so they appear here as they were intended if I'm not mistaken. I have the original LP box set purchase after hearing them on an Organ.

I didn't even know such a thing as a pedal harpsichord existed before purchasing this album. I bought it for two of the trio sonatas, which are my favorites. But the rest of the album is good, and very unique.

Thanks to the previous reviewer for pointing out that Bach kept a pedal harpsichord at home to play on. I love these little historical bits. The more of those I know, the closer it can bring my imagination to what Bach's life must have been like.

If you like Bach's organ & harpsichord music, buy a CD of Mozart's organ music. It is just as good, believe it or not! Mozart held a post as an organist at one point, but resented being "only" a musician.