Search - Bach, Bob Van Asperen :: Bach: English Suites

Excellent and satisfying all around

M. Cromwell | California | 01/15/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Unfortunately there don't seem to be a lot of recordings in print of the English Suites on harpsichord, so I didn't have much to choose from when selecting this album. However, I can say that I'm thoroughly satisfied. The performance is very good, and the quality of the recording is fine considering the budget price for two CDs. I was a little skeptical of the Brilliant Classics label at first, but they seem to be decent. I also have some Brahms piano quartets on the label that are also quite well done.



The suites themselves are quickly becoming some of my favorite Bach pieces. They are perhaps a little less straightforward than the French Suites, but full of originality and inventiveness: The allemande from Suite No. 1 is like nothing I've ever heard before. It's sparkling and ethereal, and has a mood that's almost impossible describe. The second suite has some surprisingly intense moments, with its almost sardonic prelude and racing bourrée. There is some incredible use of dissonance in the gavotte I from the third suite. Suite No. 4 is just joyful all around. Suite No. 5 is somewhat contemplative and somber. The sixth suite ends in an amazing kaleidoscopic gigue.



This album is a great value. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Bach's other keyboard music and wants to get into more. There are some other versions of this available on the piano, but I would recommend against them. The piano just cannot capture the proper feel of these suites, in my opinion. For example, take any piano recording you choose and listen to the excerpts of the allemande from Suite No. 1. It sounds muted by comparison. The harpsichord's sharpness and clarity is essential to bring out all the nuances of this music."