Track Listing

1. English Suite, for keyboard No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807 (BC L14): 1. Pr�lude
2. English Suite, for keyboard No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807 (BC L14): 2. Allemande
3. English Suite, for keyboard No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807 (BC L14): 3. Courante
4. English Suite, for keyboard No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807 (BC L14): 4. Sarabande
5. English Suite, for keyboard No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807 (BC L14): 5. Bourr�e 1
6. English Suite, for keyboard No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807 (BC L14): 6. Bourr�e 2
7. English Suite, for keyboard No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807 (BC L14): 7. Gigue
8. English Suite, for keyboard No. 4 in F major, BWV 809 (BC L16): 1. Pr�lude
9. English Suite, for keyboard No. 4 in F major, BWV 809 (BC L16): 2. Allemande
10. English Suite, for keyboard No. 4 in F major, BWV 809 (BC L16): 3. Courante
11. English Suite, for keyboard No. 4 in F major, BWV 809 (BC L16): 4. Sarabande
12. English Suite, for keyboard No. 4 in F major, BWV 809 (BC L16): 5. Menuet 1
13. English Suite, for keyboard No. 4 in F major, BWV 809 (BC L16): 6. Menuet 2
14. English Suite, for keyboard No. 4 in F major, BWV 809 (BC L16): 7. Gigue
15. English Suite, for keyboard No. 5 in E minor, BWV 810 (BC L17): 1. Pr�lude
16. English Suite, for keyboard No. 5 in E minor, BWV 810 (BC L17): 2. Allemande
17. English Suite, for keyboard No. 5 in E minor, BWV 810 (BC L17): 3. Courante
18. English Suite, for keyboard No. 5 in E minor, BWV 810 (BC L17): 4. Sarabande
19. English Suite, for keyboard No. 5 in E minor, BWV 810 (BC L17): 5. Passepied 1 (en Rondeau)
20. English Suite, for keyboard No. 5 in E minor, BWV 810 (BC L17): 6. Passepied 2
21. English Suite, for keyboard No. 5 in E minor, BWV 810 (BC L17): 7. Gigue

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15552 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 1999-01-19
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Amazon.com
The present release completes Murray Perahia's survey of Bach's six English Suites. Pianistically speaking, there's much to admire: the unruffled sonority, pinpointed technique, and an ability to spin luminous textures through fingerwork and hand balances alone, eschewing the sustain pedal. Perahia's fluent left hand may not match the rhythmic resilience of Glenn Gould's, nor do his ornaments sing out with the improvisatory confidence András Schiff brings to his equally colorful, but more measured, readings. By the same token, Perahia's perfectly judged tempos honor the music's dance origins. Yet there's a studied, self-conscious quality to the pianist's choices regarding color and articulation, brought on by his frequent telegraphing of a textural shift via slight ritards or little holdbacks at cadential points. After a while, one can predict these before they occur. Still, only a genuine master can play this well. One hopes Perahia's preoccupation with Bach is not a temporary fancy. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews

Moderate Bach
As the title of my review suggests, the performances featured here take a very middle-of-the-road approach: neither the frenetic rhythmicity of Gould, nor the relatively lyrical Bach by Kempff and others. They are entirely convincing. I find other performers' Bach sound cerebral, putting too much effort into consciously emphasising the different voices. (This pretty much sums up what I have to say about Hewitt's recently released recording of the suites, actually)
Perahia plays with pleasing rhythmic drive, the utmost clarity and a natural sense for the dynamics of the pieces. Along with his recording of the other suites, I highly recommend this as a starting set of English Suites. Only then wound I consider getting Gould's set. But then, others might insist that for them, it must be Gould, and I wouldn't argue with that.

Perahia understands Bach.
A compelling and sparkling recording, that captivates and grows on you, like all good Bach interpretations. Although not on a harpsichord, Perahia fully masters and comprehends the "authentic" creative world of JS Bach. Unlike some Gould extravaganzas, the interpreter here is totally subservient to the music. Perahia's rendition brings to light both the joy and the (strive for the) religious sublime that permeates these compositions, something that is often missing in many a too "virtuosic" interpretation.

Perahia....
Perahia's mastery of Bach is in his subtulty. He never gets in the way of Bach's music. Many performancers of Bach tend to force their personalities upon the music, which is alright if you want very eclectic recordings, but for pure sound and understanding, Perahiah is where it is at.
One of the most impressive abilities of Perahia in this album is the fact that he brings out each voice so clearly, yet always keeps everything in balance. His tone is very pure and clear, but never too staccato and detatched, as some pianists play Bach, or is never too heavy on pedal, which is something I have heard as well.
I would definatly recommend this recording. It is solid, and very deep. Bach at his best.