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Sony Masterworks

Bach: Sonatas For Flute / Rampal, Pinnock, Pidoux

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Details

Composer
BACH, JOHANN SEBASTIAN
Artist
Jean-Pierre, Rampal
Format
CD
Label
Sony Masterworks
Released
May 07, 2009
Catalog #
SONY39746
UPC
074643974622

About

Whilst there have been many recordings of Bach's flute sonatas there has been less than total agreement as to what should (and should not) be included under that heading; Cologne Musica Antiqua with Wilbert Hazelzet (in a seven record set—DG 2742 007, 1/84), otherwise frontrunners, present BWVIO2O as a violin work. Our comparison is thus between artists, performances and instruments—Hünteler on Philips uses a single-key, period (reproduction) flute but Rampal is here shown holding a metal flute with 'all mod.' keywork, two very different instruments indeed.

Johnny Dankworth once described his own music as "couth, kempt and shevelled" and Rampal's performances, those of a consummate technician, strike me in the same way. Commendably, he avoids using his facility to indulge in fast tempos; where his striking rate is the higher, as in BWVI030/1II and BWVI032/11I, it is rather that Hünteler is leisurely—and occasionally the situation is inverted, e.g. in BWV l035/I. The baroque flute is an intimate, 'vocally' flexible instrument with a softer-edged attack than today's instrument, capable of much subtelty of nuance in volume, tone and pitch. Lines of separately attacked notes, particularly in BWVI032/1, III and BWV 1035/li, sound more typewriter-like from Rampal, but, strangely, it is Hünteler who respects the detaché markings at the opening of BWV 1035/Ill, not Rampal. The slow movements point the difference in approach (and instrument), Hünteler shaping the lines affectionately, leaning on the appoggiaturas and often scarcely breathing their resolutions, and Rampal more inclined to deliver his lines smoothly and more evenly—the beauty of purity. Rampal ventures some embellishment, notably in BWVI030/I1 and BWV1033/ III, and does so stylishly, but not in the famous Siciliana (BWV 1031/11)—where H Onteler's little flights of fancy are matched by Koopman's. I am not convinced by some of the interruptions in Rampal's lines, especially those which fragment the opening section of the unaccompanied Partita, BWV tO 13, surely not imposed by breathing 'strategy'. The completion of BWV1032/I is by Pinnock and seems as good as anyone else's. Though more reserved in his approach, Pinnock is as good a partner as Rampal could have wished for and he seems as much at home (though not always so balanced in sound) as he does with Stephen Preston (CRD CRDI0I4/5, 8/75), a set which, however, lacks BWV 1020.

In short, this is a thoughtful, cultured and pleasing set, well recorded and on the whole nicely balanced, but lacking in emotional involvement; the beauty of the music often seems admired rather than loved. Though the baroque flute is clearly the best horse for this course, this is the best-yet Set recorded on today's instrument—and very recommendable to those who prefer its sound.

-- J.D., Gramophone [ 12/1985]

Tracklist 28 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 I. Andante 07:45
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Andante
    Duration
    07:45
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  3. 2 II. Largo e dolce 01:30
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Largo e dolce
    Duration
    01:30
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  4. 3 III. Presto 02:19
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Presto
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  5. 4 I. Andante - Presto 02:48
    Track
    4
    Title
    I. Andante - Presto
    Duration
    02:48
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  6. 5 II. Allegro 02:21
    Track
    5
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:21
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  7. 6 III. Adagio 03:49
    Track
    6
    Title
    III. Adagio
    Duration
    03:49
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  8. 7 IV. Menuet I-II 05:21
    Track
    7
    Title
    IV. Menuet I-II
    Duration
    05:21
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  9. 8 I. Adagio ma non tanto 03:10
    Track
    8
    Title
    I. Adagio ma non tanto
    Duration
    03:10
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  10. 9 II. Allegro 02:41
    Track
    9
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  11. 10 III. Andante 03:42
    Track
    10
    Title
    III. Andante
    Duration
    03:42
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  12. 11 IV. Allegro 04:12
    Track
    11
    Title
    IV. Allegro
    Duration
    04:12
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  13. 12 I. Allemande 03:24
    Track
    12
    Title
    I. Allemande
    Duration
    03:24
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal
  14. 13 II. Corrente 02:28
    Track
    13
    Title
    II. Corrente
    Duration
    02:28
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal
  15. 14 III. Sarabande 04:16
    Track
    14
    Title
    III. Sarabande
    Duration
    04:16
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal
  16. 15 IV. Bouree anglaise 01:45
    Track
    15
    Title
    IV. Bouree anglaise
    Duration
    01:45
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal
  17. Disc 2
  18. 1 I. Allegro moderato 03:28
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro moderato
    Duration
    03:28
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  19. 2 II. Siciliano 02:07
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Siciliano
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  20. 3 III. Allegro 04:01
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    04:01
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  21. 4 I. Vivace 04:51
    Track
    4
    Title
    I. Vivace
    Duration
    04:51
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  22. 5 II. Largo e dolce 03:02
    Track
    5
    Title
    II. Largo e dolce
    Duration
    03:02
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  23. 6 III. Allegro 04:01
    Track
    6
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    04:01
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  24. 7 I. Adagio ma non tanto 02:45
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Adagio ma non tanto
    Duration
    02:45
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  25. 8 II. Allegro 03:07
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    03:07
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  26. 9 III. Siciliana 03:59
    Track
    9
    Title
    III. Siciliana
    Duration
    03:59
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  27. 10 IV. Allegro assai 02:55
    Track
    10
    Title
    IV. Allegro assai
    Duration
    02:55
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  28. 11 I. Allegro 03:49
    Track
    11
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    03:49
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  29. 12 II. Adagio 02:43
    Track
    12
    Title
    II. Adagio
    Duration
    02:43
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock
  30. 13 III. Allegro 04:36
    Track
    13
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    04:36
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Jean-Pierre Rampal, Trevor Pinnock