Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Dalia Atlas, Mendi Rodan :: Very Best Of Bach

Possibly the best rendition of Toccata and Fugue in D Minor

the_maharishi | Milwaukie, OR USA | 11/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to say that I whole heartedly disagree with the other review for this. I first purchased this CD when it was released, and was thoroughly pleased with both the performance quality and sound quality. I lent it to someone and never got it back. So I bought a second copy of it. It's not the definitive Bach collection you may be looking for, but the performances on this CD are outstanding. Also in regards to the person who wrote the other review, have you ever known a true audiophile to have a 100 disc cd changer? Didn't think so."

A good buy

Terry Bohannon | Houston, TX USA | 08/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I believe that this compellation is good, but the selections don't exactly flow smoothly.I would personally recommend this CD on the basis of Zina Schiff's "Chaconne"; Bach's "Second Solo Violin Partita in d."Zina Schiff's 1989 recording of the partita seems to draw on the strings of my soul. Since I am not familiar with other recordings of the piece, and violins in particular, I cannot be as precise as I'd like, but I will try to do explain how I hear this piece briefly...

Zina Schiff is very expressive. In this recording, she is quite dynamic and precise (yet gentle and smooth in introducing melodic lines or ending a line or note.)Her violin seems to be independent from human touch, it seems to sing at its own pace as its nature allows. At times, even my mind's ear tricks me. From her style I am led to believe that more than one violin sings, that there could possibly be two, or more -- from the richness and depth of her style, and also perhaps from how she seems to create distinctive voices that overlap. The distinctiveness comes from how she strings certain (matching) melodic lines together. Even if they do not coincide, even if the melodic strings are separated by seconds or minutes, she seems to create separate voices for matching melodies. During one part of the song, the melody and supporting notes seem to be played from different instruments.

I do have a hard time describing her recording of this partita, I feel that human language binds the true expression of her violin, yet I hope that I've said enough to give you an idea how I hear this song.Even if only for Schiff's Chaconne, I strongly recommend this CD."