23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
30 years later, still controversial, May 25, 2004
This review is from: Switched-On Bach II (Audio CD)
Upon reviewing my predecessors' comments, I am amazed at the degree to which Wendy's orchestrations and performances still provoke listeners!
I was given the vinyl version for Christmas when I was ten years old, and basked in it regularly for years (the Brandenburg particularly made for fascinating headphone listening, and still does). Personally, this CD release is a joy long awaited, especially because of all the TLC lavished on those original analog masters. These recordings shimmer more than they ever did years ago.
On artistic merit: While the original "S-OB" contains inspired musicality and novelty in equal doses, and "The Well-Tempered Synthesizer" reflected a maturing of vision, I believe "S-OB II" represents the most consistently musical effort of Wendy's four Baroque releases. Even the inevitable "special effects" timbres here are more wry, and just plain feel natural. For example, the sly suggestion of a snare drum in one of the two-part inventions is a delightful auditory pun unique to Carlos' sensibilities. The treatment of "Sheep May Safely Graze" falls within the realm of a solo organ performance, but oh, for an organist to have these stops at their disposal!
Speaking of organs, Carlos has already acknowledged the role of her Yamaha Electone E-5, apparently acquired sometime between S-OB I and II. It was responsible for click tracks and continuo parts, and even those marvelous runs in the Brandenburg's cadenza section. Not to shatter anyone's romantic notions of Wendy exclusively slaving over a single-note instrument... but really, so what? A masterpiece is still a masterpiece.
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28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Understand what it is before you buy..., November 29, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Switched-On Bach II (Audio CD)
This was one of my favorite albums when I was a kid. It opened up my creativity and launched my appreciation not only for Bach, but also for electronic music.
Don't listen to the reviews that say it's not as good as an acoustic orchestra. Duh: it's not intended to sound like that! And there are no "Yamaha organs" as another reviewer stated. This was all done way back on the original Moog: analog modules with actual patch cords, the height of analog subtractive synthesis. It's a unique sound that's distinctive from digital synths and is something of a lost art.
Combined with Wendy's (Walter at the time) masterful keyboard performances, the Switched-On Bach series is a really nifty thing.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bach at his best!, May 18, 2004
This review is from: Switched-On Bach II (Audio CD)
I have long been a fan of this series by W. Carlos. I own all of this on vinyl, cassette and now CD. This is not an automated reproduction of some of Bach's fabulous works. Rachel Elkind and Carlos worked their fingers to the bone to get this music correct. Layer after layer; no loops. Thanks to the different sounds assigned to each voice, it is easier than ever to fully appreciate Bach's genius. The person who made the "Yamaha Organ" comment needs to do a little homework.
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