The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 846 In C Major : Praeludium I
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 846 In C Major : Fuga I
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 847 In C Minor : Praeludium II
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 847 In C Minor : Fuga II
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 848 In C Sharp Major : Praeludium III
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 848 In C Sharp Major : Fuga III
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 5 voci), BWV 849 In C Sharp Minor : Praeludium IV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 5 voci), BWV 849 In C Sharp Minor : Fuga IV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 850 In D Major : Praeludium V
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 850 In D Major : Fuga V
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 851 In D Minor : Praeludium VI
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Books 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 851 In D Minor : Fuga VI
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 852 In E Flat Major : Praeludium VII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 852 In E Flat Major : Fuga VII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 853 In E Flat Minor : Praeludium VIII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 853 In E Flat Minor : Fuga VIII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 854 In E Major : Praeludium IX
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 854 In E Major : Fuga IX
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 2 voci), BWV 855 In E Minor : Praeludium X
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 2 voci), BWV 855 In E Minor : Fuga X
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 856 In F Major : Praeludium XI
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 856 In F Major : Fuga XI
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 857 In F Minor : Praeludium XII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 857 In F Minor : Fuga XII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 858 In F Sharp Major : Praeludium XIII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 858 In F Sharp Major : Fuga XIII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 859 In F Sharp Minor : Praeludium XIV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 859 In F Sharp Minor : Fuga XIV
Track Listings (28) - Disc #2
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 860 In G Major : Praeludium XV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 860 In G Major : Fuga XV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 861 In G Minor : Praeludium XVI
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 861 In G Minor : Fuga XVI
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 862 In A Flat Major : Praeludium XVII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 862 In A Flat Major : Fuga XVII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 863 In G Sharp Minor : Praeludium XVIII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 863 In G Sharp Minor : Fuga XVIII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 864 In A Major : Praeludium XIX
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 864 In A Major : Fuga XIX
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 865 In A Minor : Praeludium XX
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 865 In A Minor : Fuga XX
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 866 In B Flat Major : Praeludium XXI
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 866 In B Flat Major : Fuga XXI
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 5 voci), BWV 867 In B Flat Minor : Praeludium XXII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 5 voci), BWV 867 In B Flat Minor : Fuga XXII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 868 In B Major : Praeludium XXIII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 868 In B Major : Fuga XXIII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 869 In B Minor : Praeludium XXIV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 1: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 869 In B Minor : Fuga XXIV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 870 In C Major : Prelude I
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 870 In C Major : Fuga I
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 871 In C Minor : Praeludium II
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 871 In C Minor : Fuga II
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 872 In C Sharp Major : Praeludium III
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 872 In C Sharp Major : Fuga III
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 873 In C Sharp Minor : Praeludium IV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 873 In C Sharp Minor : Fuga IV
Track Listings (20) - Disc #3
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 874 In D Major : Praeludium V
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 874 In D Major : Fuga V
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 875 In D Minor : Praeludium IV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 875 In D Minor : Fuga IV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 876 In E Flat Major : Praeludium IIV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 876 In E Flat Major : Fuga IIV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 877 In D Sharp Minor : Praeludium IIIV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 877 In D Sharp Minor : Fuga IIIV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 878 In E Major : Praeludium IIIIV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 878 In E Major : Fuga IIIIV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 879 In E Minor : Praeludium X
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 879 In E Minor : Fuga X
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 880 In F Major : Praeludium XI
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 880 In F Major : Fuga XI
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 881 In F Minor : Praeludium XII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 881 In F Minor : Fuga XII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 882 In F Sharp Major : Praeludium XIII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 882 In F Sharp Major : Fuga XIII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 883 In F Sharp Minor : Praeludium XIV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 883 In F Sharp Minor : Fuga XIVI
Track Listings (20) - Disc #4
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 884 In G Major : Praeludium XV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 884 In G Major : Fuga XV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 885 In G Minor : Praeludium XVI
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 885 In G Minor : Fuga XVI
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 886 In A Flat Major : Praeludium XVII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 886 In A Flat Major : Fuga XVII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 887 In G Sharp Minor : Praeludium XVIII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 887 In G Sharp Minor : Fuga XVIII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 888 In A Major : Praeludium XIX
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 888 In A Major : Fuga XIX
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 889 In A Minor : Praeludium XX
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 889 In A Minor : Fuga XX
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 890 In B Falt Major : Praeludium XXI
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 890 In B Flat Major : Fuga XXI
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 891 In B Flat Minor : Praeludium XXII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 891 In B Flat Minor : Fuga XXII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 892 In B Major : Praeludium XXIII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 4 voci), BWV 892 In B Major : Fuga XXIII
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 893 In B Minor : Praeludium XXIV
The Well-Tempered Clavier - Book 2: Prelude & Fugue (a 3 voci), BWV 893 In B Minor : Fuga XXIV
This is the sort of set you start keeping score on, as positive and negative factors occur. The 1953 mono recording sounds every year of its age, so at four CDs for the price of three it's not a great bargain. Tureck write... more »s at length in the booklet about her style of Bach playing and how it has changed over half a century, but she still endorses these performances. The listeners who respond best to them will probably be those hankering for the good old days when we didn't worry too much about issues of Baroque style. Tureck plays clearly and uses some proper ornaments, but she often romanticizes the music with slow tempos and extremes of dynamics. For every fugue she nails (like No. 12 in Book I) there are several that seem distended by modern standards. Even without the sparkling Feltsman edition for MusicMasters (recently deleted), there are several piano performances of the WTC available that will suit most tastes better, including the provocative and sometimes crazy Gould and the relatively straightforward Schiff. --Leslie Gerber« less
This is the sort of set you start keeping score on, as positive and negative factors occur. The 1953 mono recording sounds every year of its age, so at four CDs for the price of three it's not a great bargain. Tureck writes at length in the booklet about her style of Bach playing and how it has changed over half a century, but she still endorses these performances. The listeners who respond best to them will probably be those hankering for the good old days when we didn't worry too much about issues of Baroque style. Tureck plays clearly and uses some proper ornaments, but she often romanticizes the music with slow tempos and extremes of dynamics. For every fugue she nails (like No. 12 in Book I) there are several that seem distended by modern standards. Even without the sparkling Feltsman edition for MusicMasters (recently deleted), there are several piano performances of the WTC available that will suit most tastes better, including the provocative and sometimes crazy Gould and the relatively straightforward Schiff. --Leslie Gerber
CD Reviews
Tureck - Bach's 48
Barry De Boer | Huddersfield, West Yorkshire United Kingdom | 04/12/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was brought up on Tureck's Well-Tempered Clavier and have eagerly awaited this CD issue ever since CDs were invented. I am not disappointed. The tempi are occasionally slower than some modern performances (Schiff, et al)but the crystal clarity and articulation is amazing. Listen to the B-flat Fugue (No 17) in book 1 and marvel at the way the different voices are brought-out. By comparison Schiff seems unsubtle and Gould sounds (to me) crude. Is Tureck true to baroque style? Who knows. This collection is pure music at the very highest level - not a history book! The recording is not wonderful by today's standards but more than adequate once you have got used to the tape hiss. For me, this edition is definitive."
Tureck: Well-Tempered Clavier by Bach
Charles J. Haugnhey | Kensington, MD United States | 10/25/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This remastering of a 1953 DG recording is a treasure in that it captures one of the 20th century's Bach specialists at her prime. For Tureck or Bach groupies, this 4-CD release is perhaps a must-have. But, for the hiss... at some tracks a faint whisper and on other tracks a veritable steam leak. Outside of pirate recordings of that era, I've heard no other early 50's remastering with so much intrusive noise. The amount of hiss surprised me, particularly since this source came from an established, presigious recording compny. As for the liner notes, the proof is left to most American students, since the text is only in French and German. So, Ms. Tureck gets a "5" for her artistry and love of Bach, and Deutsche Grammaphone gets a "1" for an inconsistent technical recording, for an overall "3.""
Spiritual
Carlos Rosa | Dallas, Texas | 06/28/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Yes, there is tape hiss, but it's unobtrusive and should not hinder the musical appreciation of any true Bachian. As to tempi, Tureck has a feel for expressing the timeless quality of the WTC, and at her most successful, tempo concerns dissolve. Go to Gould for pianistic virtuosity and an ego that sometimes bruises phrases, other times lifts them to heights of expressive potential; to Fischer (on Naxos) for the personality, the character of each prelude and fugue; to Hewitt for dynamics of almost Lisztian vibrancy, and to Schiff if you want bland, generic vanilla Bach. But if you want your WTC to approach something of the spirtuality and depth of the Matthew Passion or the B-Minor Mass, go with Tureck. She invests every fiber of her apparently reverent soul into each note, a performance which the light of heart can confuse with ponderousness. In short, Tureck's WTC is a must for those who must have their Bach mean as well as say something. For them, considerations such as tape hiss are trivial."
Performance -- 5; Recording -- 3
Michael Simpson | Austin, TX USA | 07/19/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The Tureck recordings of the Well-Tempered Clavier are so old that they were originally released on monaural LPs. My first exposure to them -- and to Tureck -- was the re-released, enhanced-to-sound-like-stereo versions. Like this CD, the more recent LPs are based on old monaural recordings that show their age.
But for me, at least, the background hiss is worth it because I am entranced by Tureck's rendition of the Preludes and Fugues. Yes, many of them are slower than more recent recordings, and you can't hear her singing as prominently as if Glenn Gould were at the keyboard (oh wait...), but what I have not seen her critics mention below is her voicing: her ten fingers create three, or four, or even five independent lines in each of the fugues. Give a listen to the C# minor fugue from Book One for an example. Any 4-year-old can learn the four-note subject in four seconds. But this cathedral of a fugue, with its new multiple subjects introduced at the end of the "exposition", is a monster to play contrapuntally. All five voices are heard independently in this recording.
Tureck has the speed necessary to execute the brilliant preludes, as well; witness the D Major, d minor, and Bb Major fugues from Book One.
I confess I am not familiar with many of the other popular recordings of the WTC, so I have little to compare this recording to. However, I recommend this recording. I also recommend Tureck's recordings of the partitas, and the Goldberg variations."
Track Listings (28) - Disc #1