Search - Bach, Igor Kipnis :: Harpsichord Partitas 3 5 & 6

Excellent if you enjoy the harpsichord

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 06/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not much for Bach played on the haprsichord. If you are, these are outstanding versions of three of Bach's most wonderful solo works, his Partitas for keyboard.



For the uninitiated, the keyboard partitas are collections of 5-6 French dances, sometimes linked with an overture or, as in Partita No. 6, a titanic Tocatta that is one of Bach's most supreme creations.



I've heard a few versions of the partitas played on the harpsichored and this one is clearly the best in terms of both musical value and sound. Kipnis was a master of Bach in his day and you see why on this recording. Another recording -- equally low priced -- contains the remaining three partitas.



I like this collection because it includes the Partita No. 6, Bach's best work in the form, that shows the way to the mature piano sonata in its form and cerebral character. The recording also includes excellent performances of the Partitas Nos. 3 and 5, which generally get short shrift in collections like this. For that reason, they are underrepresented and these performances, like Kipnis' version of No. 6, cannot be bettered regardless of how far and wide you search among harpsichord versions.



The tiny cost of this CD makes it one of the very best Bach buys out there today. This has stayed in circulation a long time but one never knows about a classical recording. The industry eliminates wonderful recordings like this one when they bring in other ones, so ensure you get this by acquiring it today. You won't be sorry."