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F minor Harpsichord Concerto
Bradley wrote:
>
>And there are two of the keyboard concertos (BWV 1058 in G minor and BWV
>1056 in F minor), both played nicely. Those are from November 15, 1967,
>and September 11, 1957.
I have these in the Original Jacket Collection. They were recorded with
the Columbia Symphony Orchestra under Vladmir Golschmann.
The Harpsichord Concertos are the only Bach that I prefer played on the
harpsichord rather than the piano. I am glad though, that GG recorded the F
minor on the piano.
He took the first movement very slightly slower than I have heard it done
before. This made it sound stately rather than Allegro. I did find that
the orchestra drowned out the piano sometimes. As always, GG brought out
counterpoint in Bach's music that I had never heard before.
For me, the 2nd movement is one of Bach's finest slow movements. I loved
the tempo that GG chose. His ornaments were exquisite.
GG played the 3rd movement at a lively clip, but he didn't gallop through it
the way I have heard others play it. My score says Presto for this movement
not Prestissimo. (This would be an editor's marking not Bach's.) Every
time I hear GG play this I am amazed at the clarity of his ornaments. These
are beastly to articulate at this speed. Again, I found that the piano was
drowned out sometimes.
I have never read that GG was especially fond of this Concerto, but I think
that he must have been. It is in his favorite key.
I would like to recommend this recording to everyone. I hear Glenn Gould
and Bach at their best here.
Anne Smith