Bach: Partitas for Harpsichord / Tilney

$32.99
Label
Music and Arts Programs of America
Release Date
October 16, 2020
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      BACH, J.S.
    • PERFORMER
      Colin Tilney
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      October 16, 2020
    • UPC
      017685130120
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      MA CD-1301
    • LABEL
      Music and Arts Programs of America
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      3
    • GENRE
      Classical
    Works ⌄

    1. I. Præludium

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    2. II. Allemande

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    3. III. Corrente

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    4. IV. Sarabande

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    5. V. Minuet I-II

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    6. VI. Gigue

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    7. I. Sinfonia

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    8. II. Allemande

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    9. III. Courante

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    10. IV. Sarabande

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    11. V. Rondeaux

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    12. VI. Capriccio

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    13. I. Fantasia

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    14. II. Allemande

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    15. III. Corrente

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    16. IV. Sarabande

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    17. V. Burlesca

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    18. VI. Scherzo

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    19. VII. Gigue

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    20. I. Ouverture

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    21. II. Allemande

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    22. III. Courante

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    23. IV. Aria

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    24. V. Sarabande

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    25. VI. Menuet

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    26. VII. Gigue

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    27. I. Præambulum

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    28. II. Allemande

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    29. III. Corrente

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    30. IV. Sarabande

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    31. V. Tempo di Minuetto

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    32. VI. Passepied

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    33. VII. Gigue

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    34. I. Toccata

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    35. II. Allemande

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    36. III. Corrente

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    37. IV. Air

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    38. V. Sarabande

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    39. VI. Tempo di Gavotta

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney

    40. VII. Gigue

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Colin Tilney


Johann Sebastian Bach's six Partitas for Harpsichord are among the greatest and most inspired works of all keyboard literature. They represent the composer's genius at the height of his maturity, matched only by his Goldberg Variations. They are performed here by Colin Tilney on a copy of an instrument by Christian Zell, Hamburg, 1728, built by Colin Booth, Wells, England, 1984. Colin Tilney is internationally known for his harpsichord, clavichord and fortepiano playing, with many solo recordings on DG (Archive), EMI Electrola, Decca, Hyperion, Dorian, Doremi and CBC SM 5000. Originally working in London as an accompanist and repetiteur, in 1979 he moved to Canada, first to Toronto, where he taught at the Royal Conservatory of Music and founded the chamber group Les Coucous Benevoles; more recently (2002) to Victoria where he is on the staff of the Music School at the University of Victoria. J.S. Bach: Partitas for Harpsichord is his eighth recording for Music & Arts.

REVIEW:

Colin Tilney’s tempos in Bach’s music have considerably slowed down with age (the harpsichordist is 87 at this writing), and he never was a sprinter to begin with. As a consequence, his Six Partitas rarely reflect the music’s dance roots. Indeed, movements dependent on rhythmic momentum, like the Fifth Partita’s Praeambulum, No. 6’s Air, No. 3’s Courante, and all of the Gigues often leave a ponderous impression. Rhythmic amorphousness prevails in No. 1’s Praeludium, where Tilney’s loosely held duple meter soon settles into a tuple meter groove. However, Tilney retains his masterful legato finger technique, and the ability to make the quills on his resplendently engineered harpsichord sing, as No. 1’s Sarabande, No. 2’s Sinfonia, and No. 4’s sensitively ornamented Allemande bear out.

Given the performances’ leisurely trajectory, it’s not surprising that they spill over to three CDs rather than the usual two. While my reference Bach Partitas on harpsichord remain those of Trevor Pinnock (Hänssler), Igor Kipnis (Warner Classics), and Jory Vinikour (Sono Luminus), the sheer beauty that Tilney creates in Bach’s more reflective movements may well be worth the price of admission.

-- ClassicsToday.com (Jed Distler)