omposer: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750)
Artist: Pierre-Laurent Aimard
Title: J.S. Bach – The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I
Genre: Classical
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Release Date: 2014
Quality: High-Fidelity FLAC Stereo 96kHz/24bit
Source: prestoclassical.co.uk
Duration: 01:52:05
Recorded: Funkhaus Berlin Nalepastrae, 3/2014
[a] brilliant pianist — one of those daunting Frenchmen clearly born with three brains . . . the C major prelude starts us off, the notes light and limpid, the graceful pace ebbing when Bach’s harmonies veer from the straight and narrow . . . Aimard has clearly thought deeply about the collections’s kaleidoscopic structure . . . The F sharp minor fugue is a mysterious wonder, as if the music were feeling its way in the dark; the G major prelude sparkles with gaiety . . . –Geoff Brown, The Times
[Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier] represents the absolute pinnacle of keyboard writing . . . there’s something hugely satisfying about the complete set . . . Pierre-Laurent Aimard’s intelligent, tasteful account of Book One has certainly done a lot to convince me further . . . It’s an austere, almost self-effacing performance in which Aimard is ensuring that Bach is the real star. It’s also relatively low on overt emotion and rubato — though by no means mechanical or dead . . . Although the instrument is one of course Bach would never have seen, one gets the impression that this is still Bach played like Bach, so to speak — and that the great master wouldn’t object to the innovation if he heard Aimard’s playing . . . he manages to capture on the piano the spirit of a work designed to showcase the harpsichord. If you think you don’t like Bach on the piano, I think Aimard may just convert you — and if you don’t have a recording of the Well-Tempered Clavier yet then I can heartily recommend this one as a starting-point for getting to know these beautiful miniatures better. –David Smith, Presto Classical
Pierre-Laurent Aimard is such a distinguished musician . . . the finish in his account of Book 1 is near immaculate . . . Clarity of texture and of part-playing are the virtues which predominate, plus a cool atmosphere . . . –Stephen Plaistow, Gramophone
His first Deutsche Grammophon recording was the “Art of Fugue”, and he again displays his penchant for the didactic with the first book of the “Well-Tempered Clavier”. His Bach is resolutely head-driven — and it’s curious. His pre-eminently ascetic use of the sustaining pedal creates clarity tinged with dryness, yet he’s prone to Romantically portentous rallentandos . . . [the A major fugue] is fashioned with impish eccentricity, its ‘French’ D major companion is seized upon with zeal, and the E major Fugue is bright and exhilarating. –Paul Riley, BBC Music Magazine
a sinewy contrapuntal approach that emphasizes the little dissonances that are so much a part of the experience of playing Bach or listening to him closely . . . Aimard is aided by fine studio sound from Deutsche Grammophon that captures all the shades of what he is doing. –James Manheim, AllMusic
Aimard’s reserved yet relaxed C-sharp minor Prelude leads into a fluid, thoughtfully organized five-voice fugue. Aimard’s detached bass notes in the D minor Prelude generate welcome tension and release, as do his ever-so-slight accelerations, in contrast to the prosaic fugue . . . Aimard’s intelligent dynamic gradations and rapturous tonal shadings in the E-flat minor Prelude continue to reveal new details after many rehearings . . . The bite of the A-flat major Prelude’s arpeggiated chords and light, dry-point articulation reveal a previously unsuspected kinship to the E major Violin Partita’s Preludio. I like Aimard’s cross-rhythmic phrasing in his upbeat A major Fugue . . . –Jed Distler, ClassicsToday
Tracklist:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Praeludium & Fuga (a 4 voci) BWV 846 in C major
1. Prelude 02:18
2. Fugue 02:10
Praeludium & Fuga (a 3 voci) BWV 847 in C minor
3. Prelude 01:30
4. Fugue 01:46
Praeludium & Fuga (a 3 voci) BWV 848 in C sharp major
5. Prelude 01:18
6. Fugue 02:31
Praeludium & Fuga (a 5 voci) BWV 849 in C sharp minor
7. Prelude 03:12
8. Fugue 03:51
Praeludium & Fuga (a 4 voci) BWV 850 in D major
9. Prelude 01:12
10. Fugue 01:53
Praeludium & Fuga (a 3 voci) BWV 851 in D minor
11. Prelude 01:30
12. Fugue 02:05
Praeludium & Fuga (a 3 voci) BWV 852 in E flat major
13. Prelude 03:24
14. Fugue 01:51
Praeludium & Fuga (a 3 voci) BWV 853 in E flat minor-D sharp minor
15. Prelude 03:53
16. Fugue 05:37
Praeludium & Fuga (a 3 voci) BWV 854
17. Prelude 01:19
18. Fugue 01:08
Praeludium & Fuga (a 2 voci) BWV 855 in E minor
19. Prelude 02:29
20. Fugue 01:34
Praeludium & Fuga (a 3 voci) BWV 856 in F major
21. Prelude 01:04
22. Fugue 01:08
Praeludium & Fuga (a 4 voci) BWV 857 in F minor
23. Prelude 02:16
24. Fugue 04:22
Praeludium & Fuga (a 3 voci) BWV 858 in F sharp major
25. Prelude 01:34
26. Fugue 01:51
Praeludium & Fuga (a 4 voci) BWV 859 in F sharp minor
27. Prelude 01:17
28. Fugue 03:43
Praeludium & Fuga (a 3 voci) BWV 860 in G major
29. Prelude 00:54
30. Fugue 02:32
Praeludium & Fuga (a 4 voci) BWV 861 in G minor
31. Prelude 02:13
32. Fugue 01:42
Praeludium & Fuga (a 4 voci) BWV 862 in A flat major
33. Prelude 01:11
34. Fugue 01:59
Praeludium & Fuga (a 4 voci) BWV 863 in G sharp minor
35. Prelude 01:18
36. Fugue 02:35
Praeludium & Fuga (a 3 voci) BWV 864 in A major
37. Prelude 01:15
38. Fugue 02:05
Praeludium & Fuga (a 4 voci) BWV 865 in A minor
39. Prelude 01:03
40. Fugue 05:10
Praeludium & Fuga (a 3 voci) BWV 866 in B flat major
41. Prelude 01:22
42. Fugue 01:31
Praeludium & Fuga (a 5 voci) BWV 867 in B flat minor
43. Prelude 02:21
44. Fugue 03:30
Praeludium & Fuga (a 4 voci) BWV 868 in B major
45. Prelude 01:11
46. Fugue 02:08
Praeludium & Fuga (a 4 voci) BWV 869 in B minor
47. Prelude 05:51
48. Fugue 06:59
Personnel:
Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano
Download Links :
http://www.nitroflare.com/view/B7D2DD1A5A229D5/J.S.BachTheWellTemperedClavierBookIPierreLaurentAimard20149624.part1.rar
http://www.nitroflare.com/view/C8707DD7FBAD83C/J.S.BachTheWellTemperedClavierBookIPierreLaurentAimard20149624.part2.rar