Bach: Two- And Three-Part Inventions / Glenn Gould

$11.99
Label
Sony Masterworks
Release Date
June 6, 2006
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      BACH, JOHANN SEBASTIAN
    • PERFORMER
      Glenn Gould
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      June 06, 2006
    • UPC
      828767876627
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      82876787662
    • LABEL
      Sony Masterworks
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Instrumental
    Works ⌄

    1. 2-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786: Invention No. 1 in C Major, BWV 772

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    2. 3-Part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787–801: Sinfonia No. 1 in C Major, BWV 787

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    3. 2-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786: Invention No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 773

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    4. 3-Part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787–801: Sinfonia No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 788

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    5. 2-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786: Invention No. 5 in E-Flat Major, BWV 776

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    6. 3-Part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787–801: Sinfonia No. 5 in E-Flat Major, BWV 791

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    7. 2-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786: Invention No. 14 in B-Flat Major, BWV 785

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    8. 3-Part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787–801: Sinfonia No. 14 in B-Flat Major, BWV 800

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    9. 2-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786: Invention No. 11 in G Minor, BWV 782

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    10. 3-Part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787–801: Sinfonia No. 11 in G Minor, BWV 797

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    11. 2-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786: Invention No. 10 in G Major, BWV 781

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    12. 3-Part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787–801: Sinfonia No. 10 in G Major, BWV 796

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    13. 2-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786: Invention No. 15 in B Minor, BWV 786

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    14. 3-Part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787–801: Sinfonia No. 15 in B Minor, BWV 801

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    15. 2-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786: Invention No. 7 in E Minor, BWV 778

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    16. 3-Part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787–801: Sinfonia No. 7 in E Minor, BWV 793

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    17. 2-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786: Invention No. 6 in E Major, BWV 777

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    18. 3-Part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787–801: Sinfonia No. 6 in E Major, BWV 792

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    19. 2-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786: Invention No. 13 in A Minor, BWV 784

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    20. 3-Part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787–801: Sinfonia No. 13 in A Minor, BWV 799

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    21. 2-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786: Invention No. 12 in A Major, BWV 783

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    22. 3-Part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787–801: Sinfonia No. 12 in A Major, BWV 798

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    23. 2-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786: Invention No. 3 in D Major, BWV 774

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    24. 3-Part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787–801: Sinfonia No. 3 in D Major, BWV 789

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    25. 2-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786: Invention No. 4 in D Minor, BWV 775

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    26. 3-Part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787–801: Sinfonia No. 4 in D Minor, BWV 790

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    27. 2-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786: Invention No. 8 in F Major, BWV 779

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    28. 3-Part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787–801: Sinfonia No. 8 in F Major, BWV 794

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    29. 2-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786: Invention No. 9 in F Minor, BWV 780

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    30. 3-Part Inventions (Sinfonias), BWV 787–801: Sinfonia No. 9 in F Minor, BWV 795

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    31. Sinfonia No. 8 in F Major, BWV 794

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    32. Sinfonia No. 15 in B Minor, BWV 801

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    33. Sinfonia No. 9 in F Minor, BWV 795

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    34. Sinfonia No. 8 in F Major, BWV 794

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    35. Sinfonia No. 15 in B Minor, BWV 801

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould

    36. Sinfonia No. 9 in F Minor, BWV 795

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Glenn Gould


Glenn Gould's 1964 recording of the Bach Two- and Three-Part Inventions needs little introduction to collectors, for the simple reason that Sony has reissued it umpteen times on CD. However, this latest incarnation via the label's newly reconstituted Great Performances series yields its fullest-sounding transfer yet. As a result, the piano's infamous middle-register "hiccup" effect that Gould charmingly describes in the booklet note is more pronounced, along with background rumble (the subway?) masked in previous editions.

But what's most important is that Gould divines more character and meaning from the Inventions than many pianists who've looked upon these works as little more than teaching pieces. I especially like how Gould creates a unifying arc by juxtaposing each two-part invention with its three-part counterpart in the same key, sometimes dovetailing non-stop from one piece to the next.

In addition to the aforementioned sonic improvement, Sony includes three unedited takes for the F major, B minor, and F minor Sinfonias that stem from the 1955 Goldberg Variations sessions. Although Gould rejected the recordings, they nevertheless came out on Sony's 2005 deluxe "Birth of a Legend" Goldbergs reissue. Three complete performances of these pieces from the same sessions appear here for the first time. If you've heard Gould's 1955 CBC broadcast of all 15 Sinfonias (CBC PSCD 2005), you'll know to expect more spontaneous and pianistically oriented interpretations than the relatively astringent 1964 remakes. For example, the B minor proves friskier and lighter in touch than the later version, while conversely, the F minor is a little broader, with more melodic inflection and discreet yet ravishing dabs of sustain pedal. God only knows what bells and whistles Sony's next Gould Bach Inventions re-re-re-re-issue may bring. Until then, the present release is the one to get.

– Jed DIstler, ClassicsToday.com