Bach, J S:
- Partitas Nos. 1-6, BWV825-830
Performed by Malcolm Proud (harpsichord)
On this CD, Irish keyboard artist Malcolm Proud, one of the world’s leading performers of the harpsichord, presents a recording of one of J. S. Bach’s major works, the Six Partitas BWV 825-830.
Although modestly titled “Clavier Übung” (Keyboard Practice), the six Partitas, consisting of Preludes, Allemandes, Courantes, Sarabandes, Gigues, Menuets, and other dances, offered by their composer “to music lovers as refreshment of their spirits”, are works of amazing richness and complexity.
This group of pieces, which in 1731 was the first group of works to be published by Bach himself, represents a unique collection in this form.
In his 1802 biography of Bach, Nikolaus Forkel famously wrote that “such splendid compositions for the clavier had not been seen or heard before… so brilliant, harmonious, expressive and constantly novel are they.”
Born in Dublin, Malcolm Proud studied with Gustav Leonhardt in Amsterdam and won first prize at the Edinburgh International Harpsichord Competition in 1982. Since then, he has established an international career as an organist and harpsichordist, performing with such groups as the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the English Baroque Soloists, the Gabrieli Consort and the Academy of Ancient Music, and touring throughout Europe, North America and Japan.
He is a member of the Irish Baroque Orchestra and a founder member of Camerata Kilkenny.
Here is the JS Bach Viola da gamba Sonata in G major Bwv 1027:
- Andante
- Allegro moderato
Performed by John Dornenburg, viola da gamba, and Malcolm Proud, cembalo:
And next, here is another Harpsichord artist, performing the Johann Sebastian Bach “Goldberg Variations” BWV 988. His name is Gustav Leonhardt:
http://youtu.be/oDCJqXzSXQs
Tags: J. S. Bach, Partitas, Harpsichord, Malcolm Proud