Re: g minor sinfonia bwv797

[Juozas Rimas <JuozasRimas@TAKAS.LT>]

> yep, but I like that moment in the recording.  Though I've never looked at
> the score, I think that pause is built into the composition (certainly the
> other recordings I have take a pause there as well.)

I was unclear... Naturally, the pause must be there - I've only pointed out that
in the 1964 recording Gould plays *the last note before the pause* more softly
compared to the vigorous and strong notes elsewhere in the piece. As if he used
the sword all the time and then switched to a twig for one second. His faster
rendition of the sinfonia doesn't have the soft note if I remember correctly and
the whole composition is performed in a steady, strong way.

Yes, it's a detail but for me the whole piece is about momentum and tension -
let no one enfeeble it for even one note :)))

> tempo and forward momentum that he's putting into the piece that adds to the
> "flatness" effect.  For the CBC he performed the work at a somewhat slower
> tempo and the effect is less significant, though still clearly apparent.
> that piece clocks in at 1'16 compared with the 1'02 of the Sony/CBS stuido
> recording.  Rubsam comes in at 1'40.

I would love Rubsam's rendition of the 15th sinfonia only if it was the first
time I hear the piece. Bach is flexible but Rubsam is one step from something
similar to a jazz improvisation on a classical theme. Of course, I understand
that labels wouldn't be interested in publishing another set of gouldish
sinfonias - one must shock to arouse interest. Rubsam must have chosen a roller
coaster style - alternating fast and slow passages with some abrupt and
prolonged pauses. Of course, this approach must work on some
sinfonias/inventions - I'll gladly listen to them all.

Rubsam seems to have recorded a whole disc of very individualistic
improvisations, like Gould's BWV 926 prelude. The latter piece has such a
wonderful "descending" end and Gould doesn't allow me to savour it. If Rubsam
doesn't let me savour too many moments in the inventions and sinfonias, I'll
have to stick to the Gould's variant:) (except for the 13th 2-part invention.
Could anyone recommend a good and SLOW rendition of this invention? Rubsam's is
good but I still find it hard to get used to his waving tempo)

> > I can also hear more extraneous sounds - something like a creaking chair
>
> hold on a second here Juozas.  Are you asking us if there's the sound of a
> creaking chair in a gould recording?  :)  My goodness, it'd be easier to
> count the recordings that don't have the creak of the chair his father built
> for him than to count the one's that do.  yes, Juozas, there is a creaking
> chair in the recording.  We could talk more about the chair if you'd like.

Is the chair alone capable of producing that jungle-like world of noises in the
recording? What about the short sharp noises (the beginning of the 2th sinfonia,
for example) that sound like hitting the piano surface with a ball-point pen for
me? :)))

Juozas Rimas Jr
http://mp3.com/JuozasRimas