Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Robert Levin :: Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1

A MUST for any student of Bach

N. Andrew Walsh | 04/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just received this in the mail, and I have to say that this recording is a fantastic feat of historical scholarship (not to mention that the performances are top-notch, and the pieces themselves are beautiful). For anybody who thinks that Bach's WTC wouldn't sound any different in the historical tunings, this will open your eyes. For example, the Prelude to No. 22, right near the end, lands on a diminished chord, and what you hear is WAH-WAH-WAH-WAH-WAH. It's like nothing you've heard on a modern piano.

The expressive variety that this affords far surpasses the bland, monochromatic quality that anachronistic equal-temperament recordings provide. I agree with the previous poster, that this should be required listening for every music history professor and student."

Historically COOL

C. RUSSO | Florida | 01/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The music is set in the actual tuning for the instruments that J.S. Bach played - you really can hear subtle differences in this performance. I would requre this for all music history professors!

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The Top Tier

Mike Simonsen | San Francisco, CA | 03/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is about the best way to get into Bach's Well Tempered Clavier. The performances are top-notch, and the variety of different instruments are insurance against aural monotony. And as for the other reviewer's problem with occasional mechanical noise from the organ, it didn't bother me at all - that's what organs sound like."