W.F. Bach: 12 Polonaises; Sonata in D major; Fantasia

Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (Composer), Robert Hill (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Robert Hill
• Composer: Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
• Audio CD (November 20, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B000WPJ6GW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #329,670 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #94 in Music > Classical > Ballets & Dances > Polonaises

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Expressive and colorful playing of W.F. Bach's 12 Polonaises, August 10, 2009

By 

Ryan Layne Whitney "Classical guy" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: W.F. Bach: 12 Polonaises; Sonata in D major; Fantasia (Audio CD)

Robert Hill's performance of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach's not-often-enough heard Polonaises is, as I said in the title, expressive and colorful, but much more: playful and lively works alternate with moody, proto-Romantic pieces, and Hill's phrasing, dynamic variety, and judicious rubato give irresistible flavor to these difficult works. They are not always technically difficult (though some are indeed that), but musically they are demanding. The instrument Mr. Hill uses, built, I understand, by his brother, Keith Hill, is a warm-sounding fortepiano (unlike many one hears, which seem to me to sound rattly and unpleasant), based on a Cristofori design. Though this instrument is clearly more than four octaves, as the Cristofori instruments were (and therefore would have been too small in its historic range to accommodate this repertoire), it serves the music beautifully. The added sonata in D major and the A minor fantasia are excellent as well. Has Robert Hill recorded the other sonatas of W.F. Bach (I believe there are about 8 more)? If not, I hope he does soon.