David Cates is a harpsichordist living in California,
who has so far made few recordings, including a disc of harpsichord
music by Froberger for Wildboar records. In this recording of a selection
of Bach's music for harpsichord he brings together a variety of works,
from two of Bach's toccatas to his great French Overture and the Chromatic
Fantasy and Fugue, and also plays several smaller pieces to fill out
the program.
In addition to Cates' playing, one of the stars of
this recording is the beautiful harpsichord by Owen Daly, which seems
to have been built to play this music and none other. Whether in rapid
virtuoso passages, such as the third section of the E minor toccata,
or more introspective sections, such as the sarabande of the French
Overture, this instrument offers an ideal tone: neither too harsh nor
too damped, bringing out the subtle colors of Bach's music.
Cates performs this music admirably, using a fine range
of tempi and energies. He is emotive in the slower movements, such as
the sarabande of the French Overture, which is one of Bach's finest
such movements, and he seems to have fire in his fingers in the virtuoso
runs of the Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue. The only part of this recording
that disappoints a bit is the opening section of the G major toccata,
where Cates seems to shy away from giving this piece the verve that
it deserves. He plays this entire toccata at a relatively slow tempo,
which surprises somewhat. But the delicacy of his harpsichord seems
to call for such a treatment, and, at the end of the work, the shock
wears off and one cannot but wonder if this tempo is more appropriate.
Unique on this disc is the performance of two organ
chorales on harpsichord. While clearly not written for the instrument,
and not of a style that usually works on a plucked instrument, the performances
of these two chorales are quite a revelation, especially BWV 696. The
harmonies that develop, which are masked by the volume and resonance
of the organ, show these two miniatures as models of subtle counterpoint
and chromaticism.
This is an especially attractive recital, with a diverse
selection of works, played with great intensity and grace. The recording
is up to the usual standards of Wildboar discs, and the sound is extremely
realistic and natural. This is one hour and thirteen minutes of excellent
music, played on a magnificent instrument with exemplary sound. What
more could you ask?
Kirk McElhearn
David Cates (harpsichord)