Six Partitas BWV 825 - BWV 830 [Import]

Andras Schiff (Artist), Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (April 25, 1985)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Polygram Int'l
• ASIN: B00000E2QM
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #425,639 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Praeludium

2. Allemande

3. Corrente

4. Sarabande

5. Menuet 1

6. Menuet Ii

7. Cigue

8. Partita No. 2 C Minor -M Sinfonia

9. Allemande

10. Courante

11. Sarabande

12. Rondeaux

13. Capriccio

14. Partita No. 6 E Minor- Toccata

15. Allemande

16. Corrente

17. Sarabande

18. Tempo Di Gavotta

19. Cigue

20. Partita No. 3 A Minor - Fantasia

See all 39 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging Bach Keyboard, October 1, 2005

By 

R. Clifford "Bullmoose" (CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Six Partitas BWV 825 - BWV 830 (Audio CD)

The Partitas for keyboard take on new warmth when Andras Schiff plays them. In these days of fast, mechanical, performances with emphasis on diction, the partitas tend to lose their dancelike charm.

Schiff uses tasteful ornamentation, and a modest amount of rubato. But it is the genuine emotion and sensitivity that make his performance exceptional. I found this recording of #1 absolutely captivating--it's the kind that leaves me humming the melodies long after the recording is done.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fairly responsive to Bach's mercurial ways, March 23, 2007

By 

Larry VanDeSande - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Six Partitas BWV 825 - BWV 830 (Audio CD)

Andras Schiff has recorded most of the famous Bach keyboard repertory to international acclaim. I believe this was his first recordig of all six partitas and it came after his initial recording of Bach's Partita No. 5 . His newer set is an improvement over this one.

I haven't heard all the sets extant of this music but, of the ones I have heard, I'd recommend Glenn Gould over this one, assuming you can live with one in mono sound and others that aren't state of the art. There are also commendable sets by harpsichordist Igor Kipnis on two discount CDs -- Harpsichord Partitas 3 5 & 6 and Harpsichord Partitas #1 #2 #4.

The better bet, in my opinion, is to capture the best performances of each partita. Like Beethoven symphonies, Schubert songs or Choping polonaises, the best recordings often come one at a time on single recordings. Here are my favorite Bach partitas:

No. 1 by Dubravka Tomsic, a student of Artur Rubinstein that doesn't have a large discography.

No. 2 by Roselyn Turek from her Live in St. Petersburg CD (ASIN: B000009LO2.) Turek, also known as the high priestess of Bach, is one of the most unique Bach players ever.

No. 3 by Kristina Svanberg , a virtually unknown Swedish teacher that has the measure of this most difficult partita and its applied rubato.

No. 4 by Glenn Gould either in his set or his old Odyssey recording, both times in songful stereo.

No. 5 by Schiff in his first attempt.

No. 6 in Elena Kuschnerova's titanic concert recording that The Penguin Guide graded with a rosette when new in 2006.

I put this set together for my own use at home and have never regretted it, regardless of the number of new or old Bach partita sets I've heard.