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Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring: Favorite Piano Transcriptions
Johann Sebastian Bach, Christoph Willibald Gluck, George Frederick Handel
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring: Favorite Piano Transcriptions
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (29) - Disc #1

Pianist Wilhelm Kempff Recorded Very Little Bach and It's a Shame Given How Beautifully He Articulates Many of the Composers' Most Famous Melodies Here. As If Filtered Through a Romantic Sensbility, Kempff Downplays the Ba...  more »

     
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Album Details
Pianist Wilhelm Kempff Recorded Very Little Bach and It's a Shame Given How Beautifully He Articulates Many of the Composers' Most Famous Melodies Here. As If Filtered Through a Romantic Sensbility, Kempff Downplays the Baroque Dance Element in Favor of a More Contemplative Approach Where Underlying Textures and Rhythms Are Beautifully Brought to the Fore. Rarely Has the Power of Bach Been So Imaginatively and Uniquely Revealed!
 

CD Reviews

The light Bach for the learned
David Tan | New York, NY | 09/13/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I acquired this CD after hearing the same from my partner in the firm. What initially drew my undivided attention, or rather sense of hearing, was the dark tone playing of two Chorale pieces by Kempff at the beginning of the CD. The sound was so somber and ritualistic, as you would expect from an organ instead of piano. I have a complete set of Beethoven's piano sonatas performed by the same artist, but this dark tinged performance indeed opened a new window, at least for me, to Kempff's mastery of piano as a keyboard instrument.



As mentioned in the title, all the pieces in this compilation are transcriptions from well known, most famous but less "heavy" works by Bach. However, Kempff's approach not only brought out the beauty of Bach's melodies, but also the clarity of counterpoints, the pedantic and learned aspect of the great master and lawgiver of the music theory. Thus, this CD suits both the academic and lighthearted.



As a final note, tt is worth to add that the minuet by Handel and two episodes from the ballet music of "Orfeo ed Euridice" are real rarities in the repertory and additional gems in this little, but precious jewel box.



"
Exquisite
J. Grant | North Carolina, USA | 03/12/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)

"The more Kempff I hear, the more I appreciate his vast talents. This fine disc contains some of the most beautifully played piano music you will hear. I've been listening to a lot of Richter's Bach lately, which I thoroughly enjoy, especially his WTC & the English and French Suites. The two suites included on this disc are the polar opposite of Richter, but every bit as enjoyable, perhaps more so."