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Posted (edited)
22 hours ago, Captain Howdy said:

Several years ago I purchased Angela Hewitt's Bach box and have been gradually working through it, but it all sounds more or less the same to me. I'd be interested to know why you enjoy the Partitas above his other works, if you can explain.

Well, tastes obviously differ and you don't have to like Bach...I'm kind of a math nerd and love the structure of contrapuntal music.

Regarding lack of "room for interpretation", I've found plenty in Bach. That said, the three Partitas recordings I currently own (Schepkin 1, Tipo, J. C. Martins; Schepkin 1 the favorite) all feature quite a bit of embellishment or "extravagance". Schepkin 2 supposedly tones down some of his earlier embellishments. (Other Bach solo keyboard performers: I own quite a bit of Gould and Schiff on piano,  a Feltsman Art of the Fugue on piano, a Feinberg WTC on piano and a Hantai GV on harpsichord. Plus various recordings by those previously mentioned.)

I recently read a review of a Morton Feldman recording in which the critic expressed the opinion that Feldman's piano music allows relatively little "r f i" and that recordings don't differ very much. I don't agree, but the dynamics (often pp to ppp ;)) tend to obscure differences.

I've attended a couple of performances of Steve Reich's music recently, and he seems like a composer who might truly leave little "r f i", because the phasing has to be executed so precisely. But I haven't heard all that much Reich.

Edited by T.D.
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Posted

I'm not much into vocal Bach, but love the St. Matthew Passion and enjoy the Mass in B Minor and Christmas Oratorio. Have not thus far elected to explore the cantatas - it's a daunting prospect and there are too many other things competing for attention.

Oddly, I discovered Renaissance polyphony a few years ago and became an enthusiast despite not having a big appetite for Christian religious music. But my collection thereof will never get overly big, because there are only so many Kyrie eleisons, Glorias, etc. I want to hear.

Posted

It (Bach) does "all sound alike" at first (or for a while, or forever), but that's ok, because from a distance any and all ____s ____ alike, right? That's what distance is for, to keep us from becoming totally immediately disoriented until we can move in a little closer. Survival skill, coping mechanism whatever. If nothing ever ____ed alike, how the hell would we know where who/we as individuals are? And Bach, in all kinds of ways, has distance built into it.

But distance is just from where things begin once we get there.

Try this, and play, like one disc a week, a month, or something like that. Just a little at a time, because, you know, he didn't write all this music in a few minutes, so should it really be listened to like that? I like to let it impact, and then to absorb that impact.

61-HVMnwHhL._SX466_.jpg

With her, she knows where the shapes are to be had to make it NOT all sound alike, so that the closer you get, the better you can see the details. And then, like anything else, the details are what either pull you in or repel you further away. THAT part is your business.

Or you could go off the deep end and come to Bach through Glen Gould. That's what I did, and I tell you, it's been great!

Either way, beware the genteel and/or subservient touch when it comes to Bach. It is not your friend here (if anywhere). He knew what he was doing.

 

 

Posted
3 hours ago, JSngry said:

I'm a Gould Guy for piano

 

3 hours ago, JSngry said:

I'm a Gould Guy for piano

 

I much prefer Feltsman,  for one:
 

 

Or for that matter  (no kidding) John Lewis:
 


 

Posted

R-5134656-1474887879-3387.jpeg.jpg

There can't possibly be that many guitar/trombone duo albums out there.  I have been in a Pass mood lately and have been curious about this one, which doesn't appear to be available on Amazon Music.  Given that it is Pass and Johnson, I felt pretty comfortable just buying it sound unheard.

Posted

Just ordered this Abdullah Ibrahim CD:

41SDJDY9NNL.jpg  418zc-9ltuL.jpg

Voice of Africa (BMG UK)
This CD is the first volume in a series that compiles Ibrahim's recordings made in South Africa.  I bought this particular CD because it includes the two long tracks that make up the LP Mannenberg - 'Is Where It's Happening'  -- aka Capetown Fringe (as released in the U.S. on the Chiaroscuro label). 

 

Posted
On 15-10-2019 at 7:37 PM, HutchFan said:

Just ordered this Abdullah Ibrahim CD:

41SDJDY9NNL.jpg  418zc-9ltuL.jpg

Voice of Africa (BMG UK)
This CD is the first volume in a series that compiles Ibrahim's recordings made in South Africa.  I bought this particular CD because it includes the two long tracks that make up the LP Mannenberg - 'Is Where It's Happening'  -- aka Capetown Fringe (as released in the U.S. on the Chiaroscuro label). 

 

Excellent choice. I’ve got the whole series on Kaz. A good way to collect most of the fantastic ‘African recordings’ with Kippie, Robbie and other African talents.

Posted
5 hours ago, Pim said:

Excellent choice. I’ve got the whole series on Kaz. A good way to collect most of the fantastic ‘African recordings’ with Kippie, Robbie and other African talents.

Yeah, I have a feeling that I may be tracking down more in this series. ;)  How many are there in total?  Five?

BTW: That Billy Harper / Carter Jefferson haul looks fantastic! :tup 

Posted
33 minutes ago, HutchFan said:

Yeah, I have a feeling that I may be tracking down more in this series. ;)  How many are there in total?  Five?

BTW: That Billy Harper / Carter Jefferson haul looks fantastic! :tup 

Yes there is:

Voice of Africa

Blues for a Hip King

African Sun

Tintinyana

The Mountain

All music taken from these LP’s:

Mannenberg is Where It’s Happening

Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya

Black Lightning

Natural Rythm

African Herbs

Bra From Kilimanjaro

Peace

Underground In Africa

Blues for a Hip King

Dollar Brand Plays Sphere Jazz

Dollar Brand + 3

 

This is highly recommended music from one of his best era’s. A great look into the South African jazz scene of those days. Quite a lot of it is OOP and sometimes quite rare.

 

 

 

Posted
13 minutes ago, Pim said:

Yes there is:

Voice of Africa

Blues for a Hip King

African Sun

Tintinyana

The Mountain

All music taken from these LP’s:

Mannenberg is Where It’s Happening

Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya

Black Lightning

Natural Rythm

African Herbs

Bra From Kilimanjaro

Peace

Underground In Africa

Blues for a Hip King

Dollar Brand Plays Sphere Jazz

Dollar Brand + 3

 

This is highly recommended music from one of his best era’s. A great look into the South African jazz scene of those days. Quite a lot of it is OOP and sometimes quite rare.

Outstanding. Thank you, sir! 

Posted
1 hour ago, HutchFan said:

Yeah, I have a feeling that I may be tracking down more in this series. ;)  How many are there in total?  Five?

BTW: That Billy Harper / Carter Jefferson haul looks fantastic! :tup 

The Carter Jefferson is somewhat underappreciated. I like it a lot.

Posted

Matana Roberts - Coin Coin Chapter 4. I've found the previous three chapters fascinating in their distinct ways so looking forward to this

Giusseppi Logan Quartet - s\t. First stereo pressing. As much for Milford Graves as for the leader

 

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