Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Glenn Gould :: Bach: The Two and Three Part Inventions & Sinfonias [SACD]

Great music, not necessarily a good SACD showcase

Julien Pierre | Santa Clara, California | 10/07/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First I'll comment on the music. It is superb. I'm a huge fan of Bach (my collection of Bach discs has increased from 10 to about 60 over the past year), and to a lesser extend of Gould. I like the way he plays this very much. This disc may surprise occasional Gould listeners as the inventions and sinfonias are played relatively slowly compared to other contemporary pianists. 3 months ago I started learning piano all over again (I had done about a year when I was 14) and I find that I can already play the first invention faster than Gould on this recording, and with more of the original ornaments that he chose to omit despite the slow tempo. Regardless, this is a beautiful recording.It is however very unconventional. His tweaked piano has an odd sound that is a little bit tough getting used to at first. Personally, I would call it a defective piano, but I'm sure I will get flamed for saying this :-). I'm not sure if the SACD remastering makes it more noticeable, as I have only ever heard it on SACD and don't have a regular CD version to compare to (or LP version -I am too young to own a turntable)...."

An upgrade from the original stereo

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 04/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Glenn Gould's legacy is so extensive that no one interested in this music, short of a greenhorn to classical music, should be surprised to hear our hero humming away quite loudly in the first couple tracks. Prestidigitation, clarity, a largely dry acoustic and obligatory humming are the benchmarks of Gould's Bach.



Oh yes, that and the most authoritative playing of the 20th century!



You won't be let down by picking up the Super Audio CD for its small price tag. These little creations don't qualify among Bach's greatest but they befit both a sunny and rainy day as well as a Saturday afternoon lounging with a book, a drink, and/or a cat on your lap. The little 2 and 3 part creations last just a couple minutes each and present a wealth of creativity from the mind of Johann Sebastian, expertly enunciated by the most technically complete Bach pianist of the century.



The SACD playback is stereo only -- no third channel and no surround sound -- so audiophiles will probably want to check out other recordings. You hear the soul of Bach and Bach's brain portrayed as only Gould can do it on this recording."

An astounding reason to buy SACD

John L. Anderson | Lynchburg, VA United States | 12/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I own regular CDs of both the early and late Gould recordings of the Goldbergs ... and they are heart-tugging in their own ways. But when I played this SACD in my new Sony player, it was as though Gould and his amazing CD318 were in my living room performing just for me. This is beautiful music to begin with, rendered in Gould's inimitable style. Buy an SACD player, buy this SACD and rediscover the beauty of some of the greatest music ever written!"