Search - Bach J.S, Scott Ross :: Bach J.S: Italian Cto / Chromatic Fantasia & Fugue

A very interesting recording

Claudio Di Veroli | Bray, Rep. Ireland | 01/03/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am an admirer of the late Scott Ross. His original recording of 1977 of D.Scarlatti's 30 Essercizi for TELDEC is still unsurpassed. His recordings of French Baroque-e.g. Rameau-are also very good. His playing is very good here also, though I have a few objections. E.g. in the Italian Concerto, speeds are excessive, making the work unplayable with the extant ancient fingerings from Bach's circle. Thus, either Bach was indeed using a "modern" fingering even if manuscripts around him seem to show otherwise or, more plausibly, Bach would play the work considerably slower. A further proof is found in the Presto, bars 17 to 22, where the right hand has to play an alternate counterpoint: at that incredible speed the detail cannot possibly be played or heard, and the two part passages in crotchets are heard as a one part passage in quavers. This is certainly wrong, for if Bach took pains to write such a detail through a total of 21 bars, it was surely meant to be heard.

In spite of the above and other relatively minor shortcomings, Scott Ross was a great master of the harpsichord: the performance is very attractive and lively and certainly worth purchasing and listening to.

Claudio Di Veroli

Bray, Ireland

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