Gustav leonhardt was one of the most important harpsichord and organ players in the world and a very wellknown specialist in baroque music. We should hear from the first notes of a piece what the sound, affect of the piece will be. Bach enjoyed playing the organ, harpsichord, clavichord, and even the lautenclavicymbel, and. Such thoughts perhaps passed through bachs mind too when surveying his own keyboard output, and the profound differences in sensibility that distinguish the second volume of the. It explores the intricacies of each of the 12 major and 12 minor keys and constitutes the largestscale and most. Complete score of the welltempered clavier, book 1, by johann sebastian bach open welltempered clavier project. Gustav leonhardt is one of the great keyboardists of the 20th century, and a great interpreter of bach. And in the sentimental piety of the fugues in aflat major and b major with their tender elisions of phrases something of the deep harmoniousness of some later fugues in book two of the well tempered clavier 1744 is prefigured.
Talking about the welltempered clavier, a very good source to get to the original scores is the website of the state library berlin together with bacharchiv leipzig. A, e, b and fsharp majors where the tonecolour is modulated in the most subtle way. The episode has an 89% score on rotten tomatoes and has an average rating of 8. For book 2, to view originals is a more complex exercise, given the lack of the one authoritative original from js bachs hand and the fragmentation of historical copies see the work of yo tomita for more info on this. Gustav leonhardt, johann sebastian bach gustav leonhardt, johann sebastian bach the well tempered clavier, book 2. Leonhardt was so remarkably prolific in so many fields as a harpsichordist, organist, chamber musician, concerto soloist, chamber musician not to mention his activities as a scholar and teacher with a recording. In bachs time clavier was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord but not excluding an organ either the modern german spelling for the collection is. Gustav leonhardt plays bach, an album by johann sebastian bach, gustav leonhardt on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Book 11722, book 21724 significance of title well tempered. Notes harpsichord by martin skowroneck, bremen 1962, after j. The fugues are from kyle rothers lillypond engraving. Gustav leonhardt plays bach by gustav leonhardt on amazon. The current datatset includes six recordings of the first book of the welltempered clavier, dating from between 1973 gustav leonhardt and 2006 peter watchorn, none of which seems to be in one single temperament throughout. The welltempered clavier on organ as is widely accepted today, johann sebastian bach did not have a singledout keyboard instrument in mind when he.
To bach this probably meant andreas werckmeisters socalled welltempered tuning, or perhaps his own system in either case a. The well tempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the well tempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. The well tempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. In jill crosslands own words, no other music is so perfect an integration of emotional. Bach composed a paired prelude and fugue in each of the 24 keys to demonstrate the viability of the new equal. It was the ultimate workbook, open to constant change and refining by bach himself. Such thoughts perhaps passed through bachs mind too when surveying his own keyboard output, and the profound differences in. Welltempered clavier, book 1 by kimiko ishizaka in 2012, the japanesegerman classical musician kimiko ishizaka made available to the world an open version of j. In 1950, he made his debut as a harpsichordist in vienna, where he studied musicology.
Put these two factors together and you have the potential for a great piece of work. The first book of the welltempered clavier was composed in the early 1720s, with bachs autograph dated 1722. Book 1, part 1 the open well tempered clavier sheet music. If you are a beginner or an advanced player, the question which score to use is always an important topic. It is the only episode of the season to not be written by either jonathan nolan or lisa joy, but rather by individuals who had worked with the two of them in their previous endeavors dietz with nolan on person of interest and lingenfelter with joy on pushing daisies.
Johann sebastian bach the welltempered clavier 2008. Bachs klavierbuchlein 1720 there is an almost complete collection of prelude and fughetta versions predating the 1722 autograph, known from a later copy by an. The welltempered clavier may be one of the great keyboard works in the history of music. With pairings of preludes and fugues for each major and minor key, bachs masterwork still serves as one of the most potent tools for students of the piano. Print and download in pdf or midi the open well tempered clavier. He was a leading figure in the movement to perform music on period instruments. Maurizio pollini deutsche grammophon, two cds andrew clements. The first thing to say is you may want to get yourself a well tempered clavier played on a clavier which is well tempered. The welltempered clavier, or preludes and fugues through all tones and semitones, relating to the major third, that is, ut re mi, as well as those related to the minor third, that is, re mi fa. It explores the intricacies of each of the 12 major and 12 minor keys and constitutes the largestscale and mostinfluential undertaking for solo keyboard of the baroque era.
The welltempered clavier, complete book 1 by johann. The well tempered clavier, or preludes and fugues through all tones and semitones, relating to the major third, that is, ut re mi, as well as those related to the minor third, that is, re mi fa. Johann sebastian bachs cycle of preludes and fugues, the welltempered clavier, holds a very special place in the world of music. The welltempered clavier, book 1 bwv 846869 the welltempered clavier 1 is a collection of educational pieces with exceptionally high artistic contents. After some practice, after having learned a few of these preludes and fougues, the fingering should become more natural and those fingering suggestions on the editions really become unneccessary. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, collection of 48 preludes and fugues by johann sebastian bach, published in two books 1722 and 1742. Gustav leonhardt plays bach by johann sebastian bach on. Glenn gould 1932 1982 bach the welltempered clavier. Apart from the early versions of several preludes included in w.
Within a month of jarretts having studiorecorded the welltempered clavierbook i, in 1987, he performed the pieces in a solo concert at the troy. His works such as the brandenburg concertos are known for their technical depth and artistic beauty. This website is incredibly resourceful, and one can especially check the 1722 original of the well tempered clavier book 1. Check out gustav leonhardt plays bach by gustav leonhardt on amazon music. No further information about the recording on release. It is not just one of the immortal masterpieces of the world music literature.
The maximal degree of homogeneity is observed in the latest recording watchorn 2006, in which twothirds of the. The edition gustav leonhardt on allmusic 2008 this 15disc sony compilation, gustav leonhardt. Please feel free to comment on any notation engraving error complete. The welltempered clavierbook i is a live version of jarretts 1988 ecm studio release of the same name. The well tempered clavier on organ as is widely accepted today, johann sebastian bach did not have a singledout keyboard instrument in mind when he. Aug 14, 2011 licensed to youtube by sme on behalf of sony classical. Prelude and fugue in c minor and well tempered clavier. Jarrett followed with book ii 2000, another in a series of six bach recordings. Recording the welltempered clavier is a bit like climbing everest, and this new recording by christophe rousset devoted to book i has been eagerly awaited. The welltempered clavier, bwv 846893, is a collection of two sets of preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys, composed for solo keyboard by johann sebastian bach. Bach the well tempered clavier book 1 feinberg youtube. The well tempered clavier may be one of the great keyboard works in the history of music.
From all the works written in the baroque era, no other work has been so well cherished, frequently performed and thoroughly studied than this work of bachs. Bach wrote hundreds of pieces for organ, choir, as well as many other instruments. The edition, originally released in 2008, was reissued in 2012 in recognition of leonhardts death on january 16 of that year. Shermans books include inside early music oxford university press and performing brahms cambridge university press. Production the well tempered clavier was written by dan dietz and katherine lingenfelter, and was directed by michelle maclaren. Licensed to youtube by sme on behalf of sony classical.
Well tempered clavier book i music download by wanda landowska. Gustav leonhardt bachs instrumental works discography. Bach wrote hundreds of pieces for organ, choir, as. What repertoire did you study with gustav leonhardt. Recording the welltempered clavier is a bit like climbing everest, and this new recording by christophe rousset devoted to book i. Nov 30, 2015 the preludes are from the open well tempered clavier project, and were made using musescore software. Bach gave the present title to the work, which was composed for the use and practice of musical youth eager to learn and for the amusement of those already skilled in this study. Sherman, reprinted from early music america emag, november, 2000. The welltempered clavier, book 1 3 5 stars 3 out of 5 stars. Although one may regret that leonhardts art of fugue omits the final, unfinished contrapunctus, his imaginative yet tasteful registrations and subtle legato fingerwork remain impressive, as do the clearly unfolding welltempered clavier preludes and fugues, the great d minor organ toccata bwv 9, and a bracing 1965 italian concerto. Completed by 1742, book 2 was intended as a complement to book 1, not as a replacement. The preludes are from the open welltempered clavier project, and were made using musescore software. Complete score of the well tempered clavier, book 1, by johann sebastian bach open well tempered clavier project. Gustav leonhardt was born in sgraveland, north holland and studied organ and harpsichord from 1947 to 1950 with eduard muller at the schola cantorum basiliensis in basel.
In thomas manns novel lotte in weimar an old goethe muses on the achievements of his youth and of his maturity the former the work of genius, the latter the work of greatness. From all the works written in the baroque era, no other work has been so wellcherished, frequently performed and. The welltempered clavier confirms a multitude of popular theories in an episode marked by bleak revelations and tragic results. Johann sebastian bach was a noted german composer, keyboardist, and violinist.
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