Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Anthony Newman :: Bach: Preludes & Fugues, Vol.2

Newman never changes

David R. Moran | Wayland, MA United States | 03/13/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This is horrible Bach (or any) playing. Insanely fast, jerky, unmusical/unrhythmic, profoundly ugly, and ultimately unexciting. Those who like it are not, I suggest, really listening to what Newman does, what the sense is, the shape, the organization, the structure, the phrasing, the hands ensemble (or unensemble). Imagine trying to put a metronome to it. It is not "free" or "liberated" or anything else but smeary and way way too fast. Irregular, jerky, lurched, inept. Virgil Fox was better than this. Newman was quite as he is here 30+ years ago; amazing he has had a career and recording contracts and academic appointments. Listen to the clips on this site and see if you can follow it, or if it builds any cumulative power for you. Then find and listen to Anton Heiller play the same pieces (esp S.548 in e), or even Walcha, Rogg, Rubsam, Koopman, or Hurford."

Fast, Furious and Flashy

Virginia Opera Fan | Falls Church, VA USA | 11/07/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I would like to watch Mr. Newman at the console. His feet and fingers must truly fly. It is a shame that such a technique doesn't result in a satisfying musical experience. I've owned both volumes of his survey of Bach's free organ compositions (as opposed to the chorale based works) for years and always listen to his interpretations with fascination but no affection. It is all simply too fast - you may think your digital player is stuck in 2x mode from the hopped up speeds and the robotic nature of the playing. The interspersed chorale based compositions provide a welcome relief from the hyperkenetic activity that on the main menu - and a sense of longing that some of the sensitivity carried over to the preludes, fantasies, and fugues.



Bach's organ writing places demands on both the performer and the listener in its polyphonic complexity. Mr. Newman's smeary romps don't allow time for the music to register, so structure and grandeur suffer. When he employs a device like notes inegales in the prelude of S. 539 (in the companion Volume 1) the effect is jerky and unattractive.



He also has a preference for reed stops that he carries to excess. The result is often downright ugly. I've also purchased Mr. Newman's Newport Classics recordings of much of the same repertory, and the results are fast and garish there too. If you have a hankering to hear Bach played on a steam calliope or rendered on massed kazoos, this is for you. Otherwise, stick with Alain, Faguis, Walcha, etc."

Non playing organ music lover

tomtarr | cookeville tn | 03/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anthony Newman makes Bach exciting.He may not satify the purest but I never get bored listing to Anthony playing Bach.I love the use of lots of reed pipes.I think I probably have every Bach cd and record that Anthony Newman has made.I have over 1000 organ cds and records and Newman is definitely my favorite Bach player."