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Re: leonhardt's english suites (off topic)
At 01:34 PM 7/7/2000 -0400, Baldwin, Daniel wrote:
There's a fantastic new recording of the English Suites, with Edward
Parmentier on harpsichord (Wildboar label), which was recommended to me by
Bradley L. It is very colorful playing, with a high rhythmic profile. Also,
the sound is excellent.
Is it fair for me to second that motion? :)
Edward Parmentier was my teacher, but this isn't just a "be true to your
school" thing - his set would be my first choice even if I didn't know
him. Details at http://www.musicaloffering.com/wildtip4.htm#9302
Ditto for the Partitas, http://www.musicaloffering.com/wildtip3.htm#9101
Jim Morrison wrote:
I'm thinking about buying Gustav Leonhardt's 1973 recording of the English
Suites on harpsichord, first released on the SEON label and now reissued on
Gould's current label of Sony, and I'm wondering if anyone out there has
heard these recordings and can comment on them. I've never heard the Suites
played on the harpsichord and I'm also wondering if anyone has a favorite
recording of them on that instrument. Gramphone like Leonhardt's and
Gilbert's recordings of the mid-80's. Of course, I would be happy to hear
anything that our resident harpsichord and early music authority Bradley has
to say on the subject.
Trying to make me blush?
To refresh my memory, I'm listening right now to Leonhardt's 1984 remake
(variously issued on EMI, Angel, and Virgin). Very well done as is usual
for Leonhardt; it's pretty much impossible to find any *bad* Leonhardt
recording of anything.... In the 1984 version I do miss the repeats,
though. The music sounds strange without them.
I haven't heard the 1973 SEON, other than the samples on the Amazon
site. But I have the roughly contemporary SEON set (LP) of Leonhardt
playing the French suites, and think it's one of the greatest I've ever
heard. His suavity and naturalness are very compelling. Good to know that
the English suites are now available; maybe I'll pick that up myself. Hope
those French suites will follow soon. Grab those SEON Inventions/Sinfonias
(SBK 61869)!
I liked Leonhardt's remake of the Partitas (again EMI/Angel/Virgin) better
than his earlier dhm set. But again, as with the English suites, it
bothers me that he omits the repeats.
Back to the English suites: as Daniel mentioned, the new Parmentier set is
my first choice. But the Alan Curtis set (Teldec, out of print) and
Christiane Jaccottet (on those super-budget labels) are also terrific in
these pieces.
Bradley Lehman
Dayton VA
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bpl