One’s
first thought would be that this would be a first recording of
any of this music, but it turns out that on the contrary the Bach
Op 15 #5 has been popular and frequently heard on harpsichords
for some time now, since the original release of the Puyana/Galvez
recording on Mercury LP, and now available on CD. This may be
a first recording on pianos, although I think I recall one on
MHS LP some years ago.
These
works by Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst Bach were long attributed to
J.C. Bach but the correct authorship has recently been established,
and this is definitely the first recording of this music under
the correct authorship, and the detailed notes are quite interesting
in this regard. W.F.E. Bach was the last male descendant of J.S.
Bach and his failure to have male children brought the dynasty,
for the continuity of which J.S. Bach had sacrificed so much and
so many, to an end.
J.
C. Bach is unique in having published two Opus 18s The
other is a collection of Sinfonias or opera overtures and, as
luck would have it, one of those is one of his most popular and
frequently heard works, and, since there is no "JCBWV"
type of catalogue in general use, confusion is unavoidable.
These
are modern pianos, but there is no inappropriate use of instrumental
colour, nor is there any awkward attempt to make them sound "authentic."
This is straightforward playing in the style of Murray Perahia’s
or Andras Schiff’s Bach-on-the-piano style. Although this release
has little of the excitement and wonder of the Puyana recording
of many years ago, it is nicely played and enjoyable. These artists
love the music and enjoy what they are doing, and their joy is
communicated effectively. The back and forth interplay between
the two instruments requires good stereo separation and that is
nicely done in this release. But I think most people will prefer
the harpsichord performances because the rhythmic complexity is
more clearly revealed.
Paul
Shoemaker