Bach: The Well Tempered Clavier, Prelude & Fugue in C Minor, BWV 847 | Benjamin Alard

J.S. Bach: The Well Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude & Fugue II in C Minor, BWV 847
Benjamin Alard, harpsichord Haas 1740

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Après cinq volumes, de la jeunesse de Bach à la période de Weimar, Benjamin Alard aborde le premier livre du Clavier bien tempéré de façon tout-à-fait passionnante. Il offre d’abord à l’auditeur un étonnant « prologue » au clavicorde avec le Clavier-Büchlein pour Willhelm Friedemann. Il agence ensuite les préludes et fugues du Clavier de façon nouvelle, qu’il interprète sur un instrument proprement extraordinaire : un clavecin à trois claviers Hieronymus Hass de 1740, pour un festival de couleurs et de registrations toutes plus époustouflantes les unes que les autres.

After five volumes, from Bach’s early years to the Weimar period, Benjamin Alard takes an utterly fascinating approach to the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier. First he offers the listener an astonishing 'prologue' on the clavichord with the Clavier-Büchlein for Wilhelm Friedemann. Then he arranges the preludes and fugues of the Clavier in a new order, performing them on a truly extraordinary instrument: a triple-manual harpsichord by Hieronymus Hass from 1740, in a festival of colours and registrations each more breathtaking than the last.

Nach fünf Einspielungen, von Bachs Jugendjahren bis zu seiner Weimarer Zeit, nimmt sich Benjamin Alard in spannender Art den ersten Teil des Wohltemperierten Klaviers vor. Erst bietet er dem Zuhörer eine besondere mentale Einstimmung mit dem Clavier-Büchlein vor Wilhelm Friedemann Bach auf dem Klavichord. Dann spielt er die Präludien und Fugen in einer neuen Reihenfolge und spielt sie auf einem wirklich außergewöhnlichen Instrument: einem dreimanualigen Cembalo von Hieronymus Hass (Hamburg, 1740), für ein Fest der spektakulären Farben und Effekte!

#Bach #Harpsichord #ClassicalMusic #BaroqueMusic

[barth]

Good tempo, no rushing, no pointless rubato... astounding !

[DirkdeZwijger]

This is probably the best sounding harpsichord I've ever heard. What an INCREDIBLE sound

[carlosdeandres]

There's one choice some people said I would eventually regret and has made me a really happy man still to this day. Deciding to keep studying the harpsichord even when I was given the chance to switch to piano

[MatheusManente]

This harpsichord that has one of the most beautiful tones I ever heard. Add it to Alard's beautiful performance and to the sensible recording and post-production, and you get this masterpiece. Thanks for making it happen!

[tubamaxima]

Astonishing performance !!! What a magnificent sound. Bach's Prelude and Fugue is not rushed so that listeners can actually hear the individual notes.

[maryfrancesgleason]

This is extraordinary on so many levels-- (1) a knack-sack favorite composition from JSB; (2) a technically adept, fluid, attractive, performer; (3) a period-correct 3-manual harpsicord of exceptional beauty and craftsmanship, (4) a beautiful grand manor music room in full appointment of fine art, furnishings, and a collection of musical instruments including a chamber organ and a burning fireplace. Total candy for the eyes and the ears. Such a joy to see and hear. Thank you.

[tavinmj]

Such a bold sounding instrument the clavier.

[pyramos]

Dieses 3-manualige Cembalo oder Harpsichord der Hamburger Cembalobau-Familie "Hass" wird wohl gewissermaßen ikonisch
für alle Zeit die Spitze der technischen Möglichkeiten dieser Kunstform darstellen. Ich danke Ihnen für diese sublime Aufnahme !

[HenrikBergpianorganist]

I love the image of a guy casually playing the harpsichord with one hand behind his own back.

[jeanpierredevos]

So mutch more beautiful than on a piano. This is how Bach wanted it to sound..

[douglasreid]

Wow! That was majestic sounding and magnificent. The instrument also sounds vibrant and evokes the spirit I imagine of the period. I wasn't around then...

[matthieuvaucamps]

So glad to hear a new recording on this iconic harpsichord. Merci beaucoup !

[EstebanDeSade]

Absolutely breathtaking. The harpsichord is the most beautiful instrument in the world. I wish so much that I could just touch one, it's a crying shame that it 'fell out of style' in favor of the piano at some point. Not in my book, though!

[r_in_space]

First time I see three manuals on a harpsichord. Very cool.

[haydnschlinger]

God, I'd pay good money to play that beautiful instrument. Great playing!

[paulcaswell]

Wow. Despite the instrument's fame, I've always found it tonally thin and lacking in substance. Well, for the first time, I feel as if I'm getting to know the instrument - and it really is special. As for the playing: thank you for the slightly slower tempi, it's good to be able to let the music 'breathe'. Many, many thanks for posting :-)

[thinkbaroque]

Fantastic performance! And what a spectacular setting. I'd feel like a kid in a candy store in a place like that.

[voixdelabime]

Now wait, what is this? A three-keyboard harpsichord?! Never seen one before. And it increases, obviously, much the performance capabilities. A very nice interpretation as well, no rushing, just right tempo, articulation and expression details. Really well done, congratulations and thanks for sharing this gem!

[justinnoble]

such a delight to hear it on the instrument Bach played. Bravo!

[shin-i-chikozima]

Alard holds an unchallenged position as an interpreter of Bach

His performance is unrivaled by any other performances

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