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The Complete Polydor Recordings (1927-1936) / Kempff
APR

The Complete Polydor Recordings (1927-1936) / Kempff

$18.99 Only 1 left

Details

Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann
Artist
Wilhelm Kempff
Format
CD
Label
APR
Released
Mar 04, 2022
Catalog #
APR5638
UPC
5024709156382

About

Wilhelm Walter Friedrich Kempff was a German pianist and composer. Although his repertoire included Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt and Brahms, Kempff was particularly well known for his interpretations of the music of Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert, recording the complete sonatas of both composers. Wilhelm Kempff’s 78-rpm recordings were very much focused on Beethoven, as can be heard on seven previously issued APR discs, but this release presents everything by other composers he set down from the start of electrical recording until the war. Notable among the titles are four of his own Bach transcriptions and, revealing the pianist in an unexpected light, his own virtuosic elaboration of the Schubert/Liszt ‘Hark, Hark! The Lark’ transcription.

REVIEW:

There's something special about these recordings, something quite miraculous. In spite of the relatively primitive technology involved in these early electrical recordings, I had no trouble at all forgetting sonic imperfections, and zeroing in on a great master channeling great composers. The French Suite no. 5 of Bach, recorded in 1935, is the highlight of the disc; it's a masterful interpretation. I was in awe of this from the first time I heard it, since I had the strong feeling that Kempff was communicating his own awe.

-- Music for Several Instruments

Tracklist 27 tracks

  1. 1 I. Allemande 01:18
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allemande
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  2. 2 II. Courante 00:44
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Courante
    Duration
    00:44
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  3. 3 III. Sarabande 02:20
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Sarabande
    Duration
    02:20
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  4. 4 IV. Gavotte 01:08
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Gavotte
    Duration
    01:08
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  5. 5 V. Bourrée 00:46
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. Bourrée
    Duration
    00:46
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  6. 6 VI. Loure 01:16
    Track
    6
    Title
    VI. Loure
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  7. 7 VII. Gigue 01:27
    Track
    7
    Title
    VII. Gigue
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  8. 8 Prelude No. 3 in C-Sharp Major, BWV 848 01:13
    Track
    8
    Title
    Prelude No. 3 in C-Sharp Major, BWV 848
    Duration
    01:13
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  9. 9 Fugue No. 3 in C-Sharp Major, BWV 848 02:07
    Track
    9
    Title
    Fugue No. 3 in C-Sharp Major, BWV 848
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  10. 10 Prelude No. 5 in D Major, BWV 850 01:07
    Track
    10
    Title
    Prelude No. 5 in D Major, BWV 850
    Duration
    01:07
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  11. 11 Fugue No. 5 in D Major, BWV 850 01:51
    Track
    11
    Title
    Fugue No. 5 in D Major, BWV 850
    Duration
    01:51
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  12. 12 Prelude No. 5 in D Major, BWV 850 01:10
    Track
    12
    Title
    Prelude No. 5 in D Major, BWV 850
    Duration
    01:10
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  13. 13 Fugue No. 5 in D Major, BWV 850 01:54
    Track
    13
    Title
    Fugue No. 5 in D Major, BWV 850
    Duration
    01:54
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  14. 14 Concerto in the Italian Style in F Major, BWV 971, "Italian Concerto": I. [Allegro] 03:33
    Track
    14
    Title
    Concerto in the Italian Style in F Major, BWV 971, "Italian Concerto": I. [Allegro]
    Duration
    03:33
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  15. 15 Keyboard Concerto in F Minor, BWV 1056: II. Largo (arr. W. Kempff for piano) 04:14
    Track
    15
    Title
    Keyboard Concerto in F Minor, BWV 1056: II. Largo (arr. W. Kempff for piano)
    Duration
    04:14
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  16. 16 6 Schübler Chorales, BWV 645-650: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 645 (arr. W. Kempff for piano) 05:00
    Track
    16
    Title
    6 Schübler Chorales, BWV 645-650: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 645 (arr. W. Kempff for piano)
    Duration
    05:00
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  17. 17 Flute Sonata in E-Flat Major, BWV 1031: II. Siciliano (arr. W. Kempff for piano) 02:52
    Track
    17
    Title
    Flute Sonata in E-Flat Major, BWV 1031: II. Siciliano (arr. W. Kempff for piano)
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  18. 18 Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir, BWV 29: Sinfonia (arr. W. Kempff for piano) 03:51
    Track
    18
    Title
    Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir, BWV 29: Sinfonia (arr. W. Kempff for piano)
    Duration
    03:51
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  19. 19 I. Theme and Variations: Andante grazioso 08:11
    Track
    19
    Title
    I. Theme and Variations: Andante grazioso
    Duration
    08:11
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  20. 20 II. Menuetto 03:44
    Track
    20
    Title
    II. Menuetto
    Duration
    03:44
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  21. 21 III. Alla turca: Allegretto 03:33
    Track
    21
    Title
    III. Alla turca: Allegretto
    Duration
    03:33
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  22. 22 Ständchen, D. 889, "Hark, hark, the lark" (Horch, horch! die Lerch) (arr. F. Liszt) 02:41
    Track
    22
    Title
    Ständchen, D. 889, "Hark, hark, the lark" (Horch, horch! die Lerch) (arr. F. Liszt)
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Franz Schubert
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  23. 23 No. 3 in F Minor: Allegro moderato 02:03
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 3 in F Minor: Allegro moderato
    Duration
    02:03
    Composer
    Franz Schubert
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  24. 24 No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor: Moderato 03:36
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor: Moderato
    Duration
    03:36
    Composer
    Franz Schubert
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  25. 25 4 Impromptus, Op. 142, D. 935: No. 3 in B-Flat Major 06:50
    Track
    25
    Title
    4 Impromptus, Op. 142, D. 935: No. 3 in B-Flat Major
    Duration
    06:50
    Composer
    Franz Schubert
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  26. 26 Fantasiestücke, Op. 12: No. 2. Aufschwung 03:08
    Track
    26
    Title
    Fantasiestücke, Op. 12: No. 2. Aufschwung
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff
  27. 27 Kinderszenen (Scenes of Childhood), Op. 15: No. 7. Träumerei (Dreaming) 03:00
    Track
    27
    Title
    Kinderszenen (Scenes of Childhood), Op. 15: No. 7. Träumerei (Dreaming)
    Duration
    03:00
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Wilhelm Kempff