Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Book I

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), David Korevaar (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: David Korevaar
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (July 27, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Msr Classics
• ASIN: B00000JLF5
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #584,387 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Prelude No. 1 in C Major

2. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Fugue No. 1 in C Major

3. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Prelude in C Minor No. 2

4. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Fugue in C Minor No. 2

5. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Prelude in C-sharp Major No. 3

6. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Fugue in C-sharp Major No. 3

7. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Prelude in C-sharp Minor no. 4

8. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Fugue in C-sharp Minor no. 4

9. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Prelude in D Major No. 5

10. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Fugue in D Major No. 5

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Prelude in F-sharp Major No. 13

2. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Fugue in F-sharp Major No. 13

3. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Prelude in F-sharp Minor No. 14

4. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Fugue in F-sharp Minor No. 14

5. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Prelude in G Major No. 15

6. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Fugue in G Major No. 15

7. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Prelude in G Minor No. 16

8. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Fugue in G Minor No. 16

9. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Prelude in A-flat Major No. 17

10. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Fugue in A-flat Major No. 17

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful rendition of Bach's masterpice., July 14, 2003

By 

Wayne Phillips (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Book I (Audio CD)

Having grown up on Glenn Gould playing bach and listened to a number of recordings by other artists (Martins is one of my other favorites) I would rate Korevaar's recording highly. His playing is soft and luminous. If his interpretation is not as bold and transparent as Gould's, his thoughtful and subtle approach goes right to the heart of these remarkable compositions.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reference recording, December 19, 2011

By 

Sam - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Book I (Audio CD)

I've owned several recordings of Bach's timeless keyboard masterpiece but was never fully satisfied with any of them. Schiff I found a bit too soft-spoken in that his playing lacked emphasis and tended to sound blurred at times, whereas Gould was too mannered and erratic and I couldn't stand his extra-curricular "sing-along sessions." Other disappointments have included the widely-praised Edward Aldwell, who I found much too static in the faster-paced pieces, and Valery Afanassiev, who plays all the pieces about twice as slow as normal and seems to have fashioned himself as the pianistic equivalent of Celibidache conducting Bruckner.

When I first heard both Books I and II of this virtually unknown professor-pianist, David Korevaar, I immediately knew I had found my saving grace among WTC recordings. First and foremost, I would like to draw attention to the absolutely stunning clarity of Korevaar's playing. The notes almost seem as if they're bursting into life from the plangent Baldwin SD-10 piano he plays, an aspect that, along with his overall avoidance of heavy pedalling, allows for Bach's counterpoint to be heard with an incredible crystalline transparency. His pacing is among the quickest on record, yet I would describe it as lively and forceful rather than routine or perfunctory. The faster pieces brim with a sort of liveliness and rhythmic drive that I found lacking in other recordings, while the slower ones (many of the Fugues) are played simply, not too broadly paced, yet characterized by a remarkable buildup of tension and drama. Sparse pedalling and an absence of annoying background noises (such as the clicking of piano keys, the grunting and moaning and heavy breathing of some other pianists, etc.) are always a plus in my book and are another asset of Korevaar's recording. While you've probably never heard this set mentioned among the usual WTC recommendations (I never have), I don't think this should deter you from seeking it out. I was more than pleasantly surprised when I came across Korevaar's WTC to the point that I now consider it an essential must-listen for any fans of this monumental work.