Reviews (4)

Anna Magdalena Notebook-- a treasure trove of Baroque music
This is music for contemplating number and time and not realize you are doing that. These pieces from Anna Magdalena Bach's notebook are a significant part of the history of western culture, and the music is brilliant, lucid, and passionate. Just as, I suppose, Bach's wife was. Played on harpsichord and clavichord, the work-- not all by Bach-- seems rigourously, mysteriously modern, and the anonymous "Musette in A Major" one could even say had in it the roots of ragtime piano. Last but not least, it's quite possible that Lorraine Hunt Lieberson can never be less than sublime.

Music for Bach's Katy
Luther had his Katy who supported him and the Reformation magnificently and faithfully.Bach who was real student and follower of Luther's, had his second wife, Anna Magdalena who was so much for him and his family and music.
Charming and beautiful
This CD is a collection of music from the notebook of Bach's wife, who was a singer. It includes dances, arias and other favorite songs. Most of the pieces range from peppy little dance tunes(like Musette in A Major) to delicate baroque airs (like Prelude no.1), all played on the harpsichord, clavichord or cello. The pieces that really stand out are the arias, sung beautifully by Lorraine Hunt Lieberson in German. Most are religious, but there is one that is a nice love song "Willst du mein Herz mir schenken." The website on the back of the liner notes has the lyrics for the arias and they are worth reading. Besides the fact that this is good music, it also provides interesting insight into Bach's life and family and the liner notes have some interesting information about Anna and her notebook. This is a charming collection of music that is a great and cheap addition to any classical music collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baroque Variations for Keyboard    2. Cantata    3. Chamber Music & Recitals    4. Choral    5. Chorale Prelude or Chorale Treatment for Keyboard    6. Classical    7. Classical Composers    8. Classical Music    9. Classical Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    10. Dance-Based Keyboard Music    11. Keyboard    12. Keyboard Music    13. March for Keyboard    14. Miscellaneous    15. Miscellaneous Music    16. Musette for Keyboard    17. Polonaise for Keyboard    18. Prelude and Fugue for Keyboard    19. Solo Voice and Continuo    20. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble   

Editorial Review

The idea here was to put two masters together--one classical cellist,one improvisational singer/sound-effects performer--and voilà! instant amazing,unique, hip--and, hopefully, hit--record. The intriguing setup was to see whatwould happen when each led the other through the unfamiliar territory of his ownspecialty. The success of this recording lies not so much in the music or even inthe overall performances, but in the fascinating and fun opportunity to sit in onthe musicians' good-natured, respectful give-and-take, to witness an uncommonform of artistic chemistry that allows each performer to expand his vision andeven his technique. On one hand we get Bobby McFerrin's impressionistic,improvisatory jazz/pop; on the other we enjoy Yo-Yo Ma's highly refined,formalized musicianship. Originally planned as a disc for children, Read more

Reviews (24)

Yo-Yo keeps on experimental
One of the best parts of a genius is to try out of his layers. In this case Yo-Yo tried to go out from the classic, and with a very good singer, in a easy say, as Bobby. They make a very special music between classic and jazz, with some elements of pop.
This is no "Don't Worry, Be Happy"
Have never been a big Bobby McFerrin fan, probably due to that god-awful, "Don't Worry, Be Happy."But I am a classical music junkie and one day listening to our local classical station I heard a selection that I thought was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard.What a shock when I learned that it was McFerrin and Yo-Yo Ma doing Vivaldi's Andante!
Excellent CD!
While I admit to being a newbie in my connoisseurship of the classical music genre, not only do I think that this disc is a good collection of some of the best classical music ever written, it is actually FUN sometimes, with silly bits thrown in by Bobby and Yo-Yo Ma every now and then! These guys make great music and have a great time making it.
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Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Music for Voice and Keyboard    2. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    3. Chamber    4. Classical    5. Classical Artists    6. Classical Crossover    7. Classical Music    8. Concerto    9. Concerto for Two String Instruments    10. Duo for Two String Instruments    11. Jazz    12. Keyboard    13. Miscellaneous Music    14. Miscellaneous Vocal Music    15. Musette for Keyboard    16. Opera    17. Orchestral    18. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    19. Russian Romantic Opera    20. Vocal   

Reviews (2)

Great short Baroque piece collection
This CD has 17 pieces on 22 tracks including 7 by Handel, 2 each by Bach & Corelli, and 1 each by Pachelbel, Mouret, Albinoni, Gluck, Clarke, & Purcell.They are frequently the best known piece by the composer--and easily recognizable: Pachelbel's Canon, Mouret's Rondeau (theme from PBS' Masterpiece Theater), Albinoni's Adagio, etc.If you like high quality short pieces/excerpts, this CD is for you.My only qualification is: no Telemann, but it's just too good for a 4-star rating.

Excellent Baroque Collection
As I have stated in many of my previous reviews, I am a huge fan of the Sony Essential Classics (SEC) budget series. Most of the recordings feature classic and often definitive performances featuring the likes of George Szell, Leonard Bernstein, Robert Casadesus, Isaac Stern and Rudolf Serkin among others. Here we get a variety of orchestras and conductors including big names like Jean-Claude Malgoire, Raymond Leppard, Pierre Boulez, Sir Charles Groves and the great Eugene Ormandy.This disc features excellent performances of what is arguably the most popular Baroque music ever written.I am not usually one to give five-star ratings to greatest-hits style collections (particularly in classical), but the half-dozen performances by Ormandy make this disc a great purchase for both novices and serious collectors. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adagio for Orchestra    2. Baroque Incidental Music for Orchestra and Voices (or Sem    3. Cantata    4. Chamber    5. Chamber Music    6. Chamber Music & Recitals    7. Choral    8. Classical    9. Classical Collections-Composer Desc.    10. Classical Music    11. Concerto    12. Concerto Grosso    13. Dance-Based Keyboard Music    14. Italian Baroque Opera    15. Keyboard    16. Musette for Keyboard    17. Music For String Orchestra    18. Opera    19. Oratorio    20. Orchestral   

Reviews (4)

WOW
As a fan of From the Top, and a young classical singer myself...I adore Chris O'Riley and his fabulous piano playing. Each work is played with emotion and meticulous care, creating a truly wonderful listening experience! From the Keyboard
Fans of NPR's popular show "From the Top," a showcase for young classical musicians, will recognize Chris O'Riley as the show's fun loving host.Thanks in no small part to O'Riley's easygoing way with kids and his fine accompaniments, the show not only presents good music, but manages to be playful and funny as well.This collection of 29 piano pieces are taken from those O'Riley plays during the mid-program break on the show, and demonstrate the depth and range of his talent.Included with the CD information are short notes by O'Riley in which he describes his connection to each piece and what he is trying to accomplish when he plays it.Particular favorites of mine include Guastavino's Cantilena, No. 4, Rachmanioff's Lilacs, Op. 21, No. 5 and Rameau's Tambourin. However, fans of Chopin, Debussy, Prokfiev and Mozart will also find something to satisfy.This is a CD that I will be returning to again and again

From the Top, and from the heart.
Gorgeous music beautifully played.This is a wonderfully eclectic set of pieces, some familiar, many rare, all of them played with warmth and personality.I love Christopher's eclectic tastes.The Guastavino pieces were new to me, and they're gems.The Rameau is exquisitely played.The Rachmaninoff is familiar, but it's awfully nice to hear it played with a fresh personal feeling.Pieces like the Milhaud, or Poulenc's "Babar and Celeste", or O'Riley's own transcription of the Delibes, or Maxwell-Davies' "Stromness" -- all of them are wonderfully evocative.The program notes are every bit as thoughtful and engaging as you'd expect given such a marvellous selection and such stylish playing.Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Music for Voice and Keyboard    2. Chamber    3. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard    4. Christmas Music    5. Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Works for Keyb.    6. Collection of Preludes for Keyboard    7. Dance-Based Keyboard Music    8. Etude for Keyboard    9. French Romantic Opera    10. Gigue for Keyboard    11. Individual Dance for Keyboard    12. Keyboard    13. Keyboard Music    14. Mazurka for Keyboard    15. Miscellaneous    16. Miscellaneous Music    17. Musette for Keyboard    18. Opera    19. Prelude for Keyboard    20. Rondeau for Keyboard   

Reviews (3)

PIECES FROM THE NOTEBOOK OF ANNA MAGDALENA BACH...
These are classic recordings from the 1970s.At that time, Biggs--along with Glenn Gould--was really on the cutting edge of the vanguard of Bach interpreters.The highlights of this fine disc are the charming realizations of the little gems from the Anna Magdalena Notebook.

To be listened to again and again
This was my first classical album which, years later, I purchased again when it was available on CD.Many of the pieces will be familiar to those who love traditional church music, but of course, Biggs is not a regular church organist.The pieces are so precisely planned and presented that they have both an addictive quality and a beautiful simplicity. Wonderful portraits of Bach, the timeless genius.
E. Power Biggs is the only recorded organist with which I am familiar, but I have thoroughly enjoyed his interpretations of Bach.Read more

Subjects:  1. Cantata    2. Choral    3. Choral Music    4. Chorale Prelude or Chorale Treatment for Keyboard    5. Chorale Setting    6. Classical    7. Classical Composers    8. Classical Music    9. Dance-Based Keyboard Music    10. Keyboard    11. Keyboard Music    12. Minuet for Keyboard    13. Miscellaneous    14. Miscellaneous Music    15. Musette for Keyboard    16. Polonaise for Keyboard    17. Solo Instrumental    18. Solo Voice and Continuo    19. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble    20. Suite/Partita for Keyboard   

Reviews (3)

Brilliant!
I found this CD more satisfying than the previous two. I play it constantly while driving. I have no idea how I came to this CD. Maybe one of my daughters bought it for me. I prefer the renditions of Mozart, Beethoven and Dorsey himself to those of Bach (personal taste, I guess). By the way, I found tracks 20 and 21 on this CD, "Dimensions" and "Birthday Dimensions," the best of the lot. Both were composed by Dorsey. He should do more. I am waiting for his next CD. Dorsey is a gift to our generation, as much as Beethoven was a gift to people of another time.

Make him stop!
I can't believe this guy even has a recording contract.He is completely without talent and just plays a bunch of machines that any 15 year old with an IQ of 80 can operate. This music is some kind of bad joke.

Busted is a bust
This CD is a big disappointment after hearing BACHBUSTERS and BEETHOVEN OR BUST. It contains duplicates from these previous albums and a lot of other music that isn't especially pleasant to listen to and has no central theme. The Mozart additions are not very exciting and sound a lot like cuts from the previous albums. I had hoped to hear some great Mozart stuff on this disc, but it isn't there. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bagatelle for Keyboard    2. Ballet    3. Cantata    4. Choral    5. Classical    6. Classical Artists    7. Classical Music    8. Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    9. Classical Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    10. Ecosse/Ecossaise for Keyboard    11. Electronic/Avant-Garde/Minimalist Music    12. Electronic/Computer/Tape Music    13. Gigue for Keyboard    14. Invention for Keyboard    15. Keyboard    16. Minuet for Keyboard    17. Miscellaneous    18. Miscellaneous Music    19. Musette for Keyboard    20. Music for Organ   

Reviews (3)

Crisp and Clean Bach
Sebestyen's rendering of Bach is very clean and precise, something which is very important in contrapuntal compositions.However, I must level one critique against the performance on this CD.It seems a bit too "laid-back" and carefree at times.In my humble opinion, I wish he would have a bit more passion and nuance in dynamics and punctuation.Nevertheless, his crisp style does do much to show the beauty of Bach's work.A further positive note is the inclusion of Minuet in G Minor, BWV Anh. 115, a simple, yet rich, Minuet that I have had some difficulty finding next to its Major counterpart.Overall, at its low price, I must thoroughly suggest this collection because it is executed well, albeit a bit dispassionate.

Fresh, but fails to move
Janos has an effortless way of playing, although he misses out on the more deliacte nuances found in other recordings. More interesting recordings are Glenn Gould (intoxicating) or Andras Schiff (featherlight and bouncy).

Straightforward playing
Janos Sebestyen plays these study pieces clearly, crisply, and cleanly.The tempi are nicely set, and his delicate use of rhythms sounds as though he is playing on the harpsichord.Included on this album are a fewselections from the notebook Bach made for his second wife Anna Magdalena,including that perennially charming Minuet in G, Anh. 114. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Classical Composers    3. Dance-Based Keyboard Music    4. Invention for Keyboard    5. Keyboard    6. Keyboard Music    7. March for Keyboard    8. Minuet for Keyboard    9. Musette for Keyboard    10. Polonaise for Keyboard    11. Sinfonia for Keyboard   

Reviews (4)

Excellent for Piano Students
Perfectly performed versions of classic piano pieces for the advanced beginner/early intermediate piano student. Very useful and enjoyable to listen to for such piano students and pleasant enough for others.

Great listening, any time
I purchased this cd after hearing one song from it on classical radio. Because it is a cd meant to show students how to play songs, the songs are played simply, without embellishment.They are lovely. This is a great cd to play when you want to relax and just hear simple melodies played beautifully.

A must-have for piano teachers
I am a piano instructor at a large conservatory where I instruct many younger players. This disc stays in the CD player in my studio almost constantly. Nowhere else will you find such a great collection of pieces which are in the standard teaching repetoire. The playing on this disc is very clean and clear, with great attention to each and every musical detail. My students have all benefitted from this fine recoding. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Allegro for Keyboard    2. Bagatelle for Keyboard    3. Baroque Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    4. Chamber    5. Chamber Music & Recitals    6. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard    7. Classical    8. Classical Artists    9. Classical Music    10. Classical Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    11. Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Works for Keyb.    12. Contrapuntal/Improvisatory Keyboard Music    13. Ecosse/Ecossaise for Keyboard    14. Keyboard    15. Keyboard Music    16. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title    17. Minuet for Keyboard    18. Miscellaneous    19. Miscellaneous Music    20. Musette for Keyboard   

Reviews (2)

A sublime sewing Machine
In 1960 Rosalyn Tureck published a tutorial KIT for Bach beginners comprising of a book Named "An introduction to the performance of Bach" (Oxford University Press) and a set of corresponding LP's (EMI ALP 1747). Bach By Two Of The Best
If is quite fashionable to fall all over Tureck's Bach these days, and to an extent such falling is justified (not always, though). Here the praise is very much justified. Her program consists of The Italian Concerto and various minuets, inventions and suites. They are well suited to hermeasured, contemplative style of playing. For me, this is some of her bestwork on disc.Read more

Subjects:  1. Baroque Variations for Keyboard    2. Classical    3. Classical Composers    4. Classical Music    5. Dance-Based Keyboard Music    6. Invention for Keyboard    7. Keyboard    8. Keyboard Music    9. March for Keyboard    10. Minuet for Keyboard    11. Musette for Keyboard    12. Music for Organ    13. Polonaise for Keyboard    14. Prelude and Fugue for Keyboard    15. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble    16. Suite/Partita for Keyboard    17. Vocal   

Reviews (6)

Almost like the harpsichord
As I listen to the album, I keep forgetting it's a banjo, because it sounds like a harpsichord.Probably sounds very much as Bach heard the songs. I highly recommend the album.

Nice change
Admittedly, I bought this CD for Bach's Violin Partita No. 3 in E - Prelude (My favorite piece of all time).However, this whole CD should provide any Baroque listener with as much enjoyment as it does for me.The transciption for banjo is an interesting change from typical classical instruments, and it sheds some new light on Bach's genius.Even being played on their non-native instruments, Bach's pieces never lose their ability to wow me.I highly recommend to any fan of Bach.

Johann would have approved
I wonder if that idiot who wrote about stomping feet ever bothered to listen to either of Mr. Bullards cds.If he had, he would have found tasteful, respectful, even reverent translations of pieces from the height of the baroque.Bach himself wrote that his two and three part inventions were designed to teach the player the "singing style" with each hand; this is in some ways a microcosm of the baroque precepts of polyphony and counterpoint.Mr. Bullard lets each "hand" speak for itself.If you're a classical music novice like myself, it is much easier to make sense of and follow the fugue when each voice is played on a different instrument, and this cd has increased my appreciation of Bach and Handel far beyond the pieces found here.
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Subjects:  1. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    2. Chamber    3. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard    4. Classical    5. Classical Collections-Composer Desc.    6. Concerto    7. Concerto for Two String Instruments    8. Contemporary Bluegrass    9. Dance-Based Keyboard Music    10. Keyboard    11. Minuet for Keyboard    12. Miscellaneous    13. Miscellaneous Music    14. Musette for Keyboard    15. Music for Organ    16. Orchestral    17. Polonaise for Keyboard    18. Progressive Bluegrass    19. Quartet for Four String Instruments    20. Violin Solo   

Reviews (1)

A Powerful and Exciting CD Set!
I am fairly new to classical music and have depended heavily on reviews toselect what CDs to try.I ordered this newly-released one based on thecontents and am very happy I did.The music is sharp and clear.When itswells to a dramatic moment, it takes your breath away!Featuring themasterful palying of E. Power Biggs and Anthony Newman among others, this 2CD set is a great value for the price! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Band    2. Cantata    3. Chamber    4. Chamber Music    5. Chamber Music & Recitals    6. Choral    7. Chorale Prelude or Chorale Treatment for Keyboard    8. Classical    9. Classical Composers    10. Classical Music    11. Concerto    12. Contrapuntal/Improvisatory Keyboard Music    13. Dance-Based Keyboard Music    14. Keyboard    15. Keyboard Music    16. March for Band    17. March for Keyboard    18. Medieval/Renaissance Organ Music    19. Minuet for Keyboard    20. Miscellaneous   

Subjects:  1. Baroque Variations for Keyboard    2. Cantata    3. Choral    4. Chorale Prelude or Chorale Treatment for Keyboard    5. Chorale Setting    6. Classical    7. Classical Composers    8. Classical Music    9. Dance-Based Keyboard Music    10. Keyboard    11. Minuet for Keyboard    12. Miscellaneous    13. Miscellaneous Music    14. Musette for Keyboard    15. Prelude and Fugue for Keyboard    16. Solo Voice and Continuo    17. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble    18. Suite/Partita for Keyboard    19. Vocal   

Reviews (4)

Novel idea, but save your money...
not really that great, sampling it here is good enough.

Move Over PDQ & Russell: You Got Company +
As an afficianato of classics done with love and humour since Spike Jones Does the Classics on 78, this is clearly one of the best.
A Welcome Relief!
Aside from a couple of Supreme Court decisions limiting capital punishment, this has been a dismal week, with our ill-eagle, incompetent government trashing the Constitution, as usual.So -- it was an immense relief that I received through the mail a package of CDs today, one of which is Woody Phillips' TOOLBOX CLASSICS.I'm a fan of classical music humor, especially parodists like "PDQ Bach," Anna Russell, and the British composers who contributed to the Hoffnung Interplanetary Music Festivals, and I enjoy wood-working, but I'd probably never have heard of this obscure CD if it hadn't been played on our local Public Radio station.They've played at least two selections from the album while I was driving to the train station. I nearly crashed my car, laughing at Rimsky-Korsakoff's "Flight of the Bumblebee."Read more

Subjects:  1. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    2. Chamber Music & Recitals    3. Christmas    4. Classical    5. Classical Artists    6. Classical Music    7. Classical Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    8. Dance-Based Keyboard Music    9. French Romantic Opera    10. German/Austrian Romantic Opera    11. Keyboard    12. Minimalist Music    13. Musette for Keyboard    14. Music for Organ    15. Novelty    16. Opera    17. Orchestral    18. Romantic Orchestral Music    19. Romantic Symphony    20. Romantic Tone Poem/Symphonic Poem for Orchestra   

Features

• Box set

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Symphony    2. Adagio for Orchestra    3. Art Song (General)    4. Bagatelle for Keyboard    5. Ballet    6. Baroque Individual Dance Movement for Orchestra    7. Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra    8. Cantata    9. Chamber    10. Chamber Music    11. Character/Single-Movement/Miscellaneous Work for Keyboard    12. Choral    13. Clarinet Concerto    14. Classical    15. Classical Collections-Artist Desc.    16. Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento    17. Classical Vocals    18. Concerto    19. Concerto Grosso    20. Czech Romantic Opera   

Reviews (2)

A Fitting Time for a Perfect Recorded Memory
For those who continue to listen to the recorded memories of the very sadly and recently lost Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, this recording is about as perfect as any recorded to remember the inordinately intelligent, beautiful, compassionate and eloquent connection between Hunt Lieberson and Bach.Nicholas McGegan is the epitome of Bach interpreters and has selected a program that is one of the more sensitive and enriching on record.
Excellent Bach collection
This is a wonderful album for those who like light harpsichord with some interspersed vocals.It contains some of Bach's best and most pleasing harpsichord compositions, along with a good selection from the Clavierb�chlein f�r Anna Magdalena. Lorraine Hunt is fabulous, particularly shining on "Willst du mein Herz mir schenken" and truly stirring on "Ich habe genug".Recommended for anyone with a soul! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baroque Variations for Keyboard    2. Cantata    3. Chamber Music & Recitals    4. Choral    5. Chorale Prelude or Chorale Treatment for Keyboard    6. Classical    7. Classical Music    8. Keyboard    9. Minuet for Keyboard    10. Miscellaneous    11. Miscellaneous Music    12. Musette for Keyboard    13. Prelude and Fugue for Keyboard    14. Solo Voice and Continuo    15. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble    16. Suite/Partita for Keyboard    17. Vocal   

Reviews (1)

Buyer Beware (or not)
This CD isn't exactly what it seems. While there are many recordings of classical music pieces performed by music boxes, other cheesy synthesizer sounds have also been added. While many of the music boxes are really 'real' (there is some mechanical noise in the recordings) others are suspiciously clean, leading me to believe that they are really synthesized sounds. All of the recordings are drenched in reverb, making it sound as though the entire CD was recorded in a cave. There is no information about who recorded this album, or where it was recorded. It merely says "The publishers would like to thank the museums, collectors, archives, and art libraries for their cooperation" although it doesn't get more specific than that. Read more

Subjects:  1. Ballet    2. Childrens    3. Classical    4. Classical Collections-Artist Desc.    5. Classical Music    6. Classical Period Variations for Keyboard    7. Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Works for Keyb.    8. Film    9. Film Music    10. German/Austrian Classical Period Opera    11. Invention for Keyboard    12. Keyboard    13. Lullaby    14. Minuet for Keyboard    15. Miscellaneous    16. Miscellaneous Music    17. Musette for Keyboard    18. Opera    19. Orchestral    20. Suite for Orchestra   

Reviews (1)

The revelation of Bach on two archguitars
Masterful transcriptions of mostly Bach works for 2 "archguitars", (which sound very lute-like, but transverse almost a full piano range), unique, exceptionally beautiful tonalities--breathtakingly gorgeous largos--wow! This CD tends to stay on repeat a lot on the CD player for very good reason--it is magnificent. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baroque Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    2. Capriccio/Caprice for Keyboard    3. Chamber    4. Chamber Music & Recitals    5. Classical    6. Classical Artists    7. Classical Music    8. Concerto    9. Invention for Keyboard    10. Keyboard    11. Keyboard Concerto    12. Keyboard Music    13. Musette for Keyboard    14. Prelude and Fugue for Keyboard    15. Prelude for Keyboard    16. Suite/Partita for Keyboard    17. Violin Solo    18. Violin with Keyboard   

Editorial Review

These small pieces are what survive of two volumes compiled in the Bach household for the pleasure of Bach's second wife, herself a professional musician, and for her use in teaching music to their children. The recording provides a touching picture of domestic music-making in the Bach household. Igor Kipnis plays most of the music by himself, in his enlightened and enlivening style, and he is joined by excellent colleagues on songs that we can imagine Anna and her children singing. This is a wonderful, well- recorded set. But bring your magnifying glass if you want to read the fuzzy microtype of the booklet. Read more

Reviews (3)

Kipnis needs to slow down
This is a beautiful recording but Igor Kipnis needs to slow down.He plays the short, easy keyboard pieces as fast as he can and with strange trills and extra notes.The rhythms are wierd too.I liked this recording but could have liked it better if Igor Kipnis did not ruin it with his wierd playing.

An intimate recital
Anna Magdalena Bach's notebook is a wonderful collection of music by J.S. Bach, his son C.P.E., and various other composers, including lesser-knowns and many peices which have not been attributed to anyone.The credits above are a little misleading in this respect, but it's consistently great music all the way through.The Rondeau (track 6) is a particularly stunning work, tuneful and beautiful, clocking in at around 5 minutes.It was written by Couperin and comes from his second book of harpsichord works.Kipnis' performance is excellent, and while his style (decoration, rubato, etc.) is distracting on a few other selections, here it is marvelous and perfectly suited to the work. AJoy to the ears (Mostly!)
These pieces, originally written by Bach for his wife as lessons for their children is delightful. Some of the pieces will be familiar, while others are just simply romps through the keyboard.I found some of the pieces abit unfinished, and unpolished, yet still enjoyable!The pices are playedon Harpsachord and Clavechord, two instruments that will quickly take anylistener back to the times of Bach.These instruments lend themselves togive a light and airy rendering of the music.While I am not particularlya fan of operetic styles, there are a few of these scattered through-out. I tend to skip these, though even these are easy to enjoy.Overall, Ihighly reccommend this version as one of the best and well composedrenderings of the little known notebook of Anna Magdelana Bach! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baroque Variations for Keyboard    2. Cantata    3. Choral    4. Chorale Prelude or Chorale Treatment for Keyboard    5. Chorale Setting    6. Classical    7. Classical Composers    8. Classical Music    9. Classical Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    10. Dance-Based Keyboard Music    11. Keyboard    12. Keyboard Music    13. March for Keyboard    14. Minuet for Keyboard    15. Musette for Keyboard    16. Music for Organ    17. Polonaise for Keyboard    18. Prelude and Fugue for Keyboard    19. Solo Voice and Continuo    20. Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble   

Subjects:  1. "Growing up with the Classic" is a treasury of the master's piano music and favorite poems for children and adults.    2. Chamber    3. Chamber Music    4. Classical Artists    5. Classical Period Variations for Keyboard    6. Classical Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard    7. Dance-Based Keyboard Music    8. Keyboard    9. Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title    10. Miscellaneous    11. Miscellaneous Music    12. Musette for Keyboard    13. Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard    14. Song Without Words for Keyboard    15. Suite/Partita for Keyboard    16. Vocal   

Subjects:  1. Chamber Music & Recitals    2. Chorale Prelude or Chorale Treatment for Keyboard    3. Classical    4. Classical Composers    5. Classical Music    6. Dance-Based Keyboard Music    7. Fugue for Keyboard    8. Keyboard    9. Keyboard Music    10. Minuet for Keyboard    11. Miscellaneous    12. Miscellaneous Music    13. Musette for Keyboard    14. Music for Organ    15. Prelude and Fugue for Keyboard