Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Sonata for solo violin No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: 1. Adagio
2. Sonata for solo violin No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: 2. Fuga. Allegro
3. Sonata for solo violin No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: 3. Siciliana
4. Sonata for solo violin No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: 4. Presto
5. Partita for solo violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002: 1. Allemanda
6. Partita for solo violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002: 2. Double
7. Partita for solo violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002: 3. Corrente
8. Partita for solo violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002: 4. Double. Presto
9. Partita for solo violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002: 5. Sarabande
10. Partita for solo violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002: 6. Double
11. Partita for solo violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002: 7. Tempo di Borea
12. Partita for solo violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002: 8. Double
13. Sonata for solo violin No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003: 1. Grave
14. Sonata for solo violin No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003: 2. Fuga
15. Sonata for solo violin No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003: 3. Andante
16. Sonata for solo violin No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003: 4. Allegro

Disc 2:

1. Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: 1. Allemanda
2. Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: 2. Corrente
3. Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: 3. Sarabanda
4. Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: 4. Giga
5. Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: 5. Ciaccona
6. Sonata for solo violin No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005: 1. Adagio
7. Sonata for solo violin No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005: 2. Fuga. Allabreve
8. Sonata for solo violin No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005: 3. Largo
9. Sonata for solo violin No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005: 4. Allegro assai
10. Partita for solo violin No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006: 1. Preludio
11. Partita for solo violin No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006: 2. Loure
12. Partita for solo violin No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006: 3. Gavotte en Rondeau
13. Partita for solo violin No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006: 4. Menuet I
14. Partita for solo violin No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006: 5. Menuet II
15. Partita for solo violin No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006: 6. Bourrée
16. Partita for solo violin No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006: 7. Gigue

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #82032 in Music
• Released on: 1994-10-04
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Customer Reviews

A Stunning Performance
I've been listening to the Bach violin sonatas and partitas for years, and this is without a doubt one of the most amazing performances that I have ever heard. The polyphony is incredibly clear and crisp -- to the point where it sounds like multiple violinists are playing. At the same time, Mintz makes it all seem so effortless. If you're a fan of these works, you need to have this CD in your collection.

A Truly Spiritual Performance! Resonance of Bach's Soul`
Along with Mintz's recording I also have Milstein's (50's and 70's), Heifeiz's, Enesco's, and Perlman's recording; and I find that this is the best of all. I strongly agree with the previous reviewer that this recording can be categoried as a "traditional romantic" or said conservative. Yet, Mintz playing transcends beyond virtuoso; it's more of spiritual and religiously.

In terms of violin sound, I would slightly prefer Milstein's Stradivarius sound (I am not quite sure what violin Mintz played), but Milstein's usual faster playing style causes him to take a slower approach during some of the more difficult multi stops passage in Fuga, it somewhat looses the continuous feeling of tempo. Thus, I would prefer Mintz "good and progressive, not too fast tempo" over anyone.

Not bad for a traditionally romantic interpretation
I'm still looking for an ideal recording of Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin -- one that combines the best of all worlds the way Pergamenschikow does in his recording of the Cello Suites (Hanssler Classics). Mintz's interpretation could be broadly categorized as the traditionally romantic virtuoso type. Yet given this stylistic parameter, Mintz is quite wonderful. He is much better, than, say, Perlman (EMI), who has some very odd tempo distortions (a double broadening of tempi in some places, and the usual gratuitous rubato everywhere). Mintz's multiple-stops are unusually clean, and his delineation of voices in the fugues is quite clear. Yet Mintz also has a keen sense of structure, making sure his tempi are not too spacious, and judging his rubato perfectly. At mid-price, you could do worse than this set, though I'm still waiting for the ideal interpretation of these glorious works to arrive.