BACH/BUSONI
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750), transcribed for piano by
Ferrucio Busoni (1866 ñ 1924)
Toccata in C Major for Organ, BWV 564
Choral Preludes for Organ
Chaconne From partita No. 2 for Violin, BWV 1004
(14.49)
Kun-Woo Paik, Piano
rec June 2000
DECCA 467 358-2
[70.35]
Crotchet
AmazonUK
AmazonUS
Toccata in C Major for Organ, BWV 564
1. Preludio, Quasi Improvvisando (6.59)
2. Intermezzo (6.04)
3. Fuga (4.23)
Choral Preludes for Organ
4. Komm, Gott Schopfer,Heiliger Geist, BWV 667 (2.04)
5. Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimmer, BWV 645 (4.15)
6. Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 (6.04)
7. Nun freut euch, lieben Christen gmein, BWV 734 (2.06)
8. Ich ruf Zu dir Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639 (4.11)
9. Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, BWV 665 (6.07)
10. In dir ist Freude, BWV 615 (2.01)
11. Herr Gott, nun schliuss den Himmel auf BWV 617 (3.06)
12. Durch Adam's Fall ist ganz verderbt, BWV 637 (2.29)
13. Durch Adam's Fall ist ganz verderbt, BWV 705 (5.26)
14. Chaconne From partita No. 2 for Violin, BWV 1004 (14.49
When reviewing a CD such as this, one must first decide whether to review
it as if it were music by Bach or Busoni. In essence, it is both, and neither.
Busoni was a great lover of Bach's music, and, as a homage to Bach, as well
as a way of making his works more accessible, made his own, personal
transcriptions of various works for piano.
This disc includes 14 works, originally for organ, for the most part, along
with the famous transcription of the Chaconne from the D Major violin partita.
Some of these transcriptions recall Bach's music almost exactly, such as
the choral prelude BWV 645, where the piano evokes the atmosphere of the
work. Others sound too pianistic, such as the choral prelude BWV 734, where
the sound is confused and too rapid for the themes to come through clearly.
Kun-Woo Paik is, in any case, an excellent performer of the organ works.
His sensitivity and phrasing are admirable, and the recording is near-perfect.
Yet, as one familiar with Bach's music played "non-transcribed", I cannot
help but wonder if he is comfortable with this repertory. This is a romanticised
vision of Bach; far from what some pianists, such as Murray Perahia, achieve,
and light-years away from the great Bach pianists such as Glen Gould or Rosalyn
Tureck.
But, in the end, this isn't Bach. Listening to the famous Chaconne, one is
struck by the lack of clear direction of the performance. Originally written
for solo violin, and, indeed, one of Bach's masterpieces requiring the utmost
virtuosity, this work translates poorly to the piano. Paik's interpretation
shifts among many different registers - at first his sound is almost martial,
then it slips into a more pastoral tone, before wandering off into a mixture
of different registers that leave the listener slightly confused as his
virtuosity takes over. Then it slides into a Beethoven-like attack on the
piano's very core, with fortissimo after fortissimo. (I may be wrong here,
because I have never seen Busoni's score for this work - Paik may simply
be reproducing the dynamics indicated by Busoni). There are too many changes
in tempo and dynamics for my taste; but I prefer Bach as his music was written.
If you especially like these works as such, then this disc is worth a listen.
The performance is interesting, and the recording excellent. But if you are
a real lover of Bach, this is not for you.
An attractive recording of some of Busoni's transcriptions of Bach - neither
Bach nor Busoni, but some of the music works well on piano.
Kirk McElhearn
