Customer Reviews

Johann Sebastian Bach: Gamba Sonatas

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

 

 

Wispelwey, Egarr, and Yeadon have achieved a rare musical balance. They truly form parts of a whole. The playing is very spirited, and polypnony is absolutely beautiful. Of special note is the first track, Prelude in C from the Well-Tempered Clavier. Piano students, this is the way it should be played. Buy this CD while it's here!

Pieter Wispelwey is perhaps not known for consistency at least as far as musical and stylistic interpretation are concerned. He is constantly changing, pushing, and evolving. He is not static and is often unpredictable. But isn't that what is so engaging about Baroque music? This is certainly what makes Wispelwey so much fun to listen to. Leaving the fascinating transcriptions aside (they are wonderful) the 3 gamba sonatas on this recording are a palate of colors and articulation and a showcase of virtuoso Baroque bow technique. Even the continuo playing is fresh and surprising with the first sonata accompanied on organ, the second on fortepiano and the third on harpsichord. Wispelwey managed to hold my attention while still remaining a true servant of the music. The lines are well drawn and the tempi well chosen. My only complaint is that this recording was perhaps mic'd a bit too close (see the few complaints on the 'too hot' recording of his bach suites). This makes for a bit too much fingerboard noise and an almost distractingly high mic level in places.

This is certainly the best recording I know of the sonatas, and one of the finest cello recordings I own.

Sloppy and annoying to the ear! When I hear this I imagine sitting at the circus as child and watching midgets chase each other into a tiny car and seeing how many of them the ring-master can cram into it! Where is the care? This is all about the performer, not about Bach.

Peter Wispelwey is the most gratest Bach's player