BACH.
The Well-tempered Clavier, Book two.
Diana Boyle (piano).
Metier
MSVCD2002. Two
CDs.
Metier
A lot of controversy surrounds the playing of Bach. There are some who venomously
deplore a piano being used to play his works. And, of course,Glen Gould's
performances caused an outrage many years ago.
But the real problem is that Bach seldom used tempo directions or tonal
instructions and so it is left to the performer to calculate tempi and tone.
And there is that appalling and infuriating style of slowing down at the
end of each piece with a grinding rallentando as if one is doing an emergency
stop in the car.
Students of Bach know that this is merely affectation. That inherent in his
music itself are his crescendos and rallentandos and the like. If Bach wants
the music to appear to be quickening he will introduce semiquavers or the
equivalent and if he wants to slow down he will revert to quavers or crotchets
but that does not mean a rallentando as well.
Some keyboard players try to play Bach in a romantic way with lingerings
and rubato and, quite frankly, it does not work. Occasionally, Ms Boyle does
this and, I fear, she also belongs to the slowing down at the end brigade.
A great pity because there is so much to enjoy in her playing. It is wonderfully
clear, bringing out Bach's counterpoint to perfection and this recording
is a must for those who want to study these works from the academic point
of view of Bach's counterpoint. Ms Boyle has very strong finger work so that
some of the fugue subjects come out with a hint of a sore thumb technique.
Personally I think this works but the Purists may not.
She also has a marvellous way to make some of the music very robust and does
not play Bach in that wishy washy, pastel and affected way. For this and
many other qualities she is to be commended.
I value these recordings but more for teaching purposes than anything else.
The recording is clean and sharp and also commendable.
David Wnght
Performances
Recording
