J.S.Bach: Clavichord

After his landmark recording of some of Johann Sebastian Bach’s most important keyboard music, one of the great Bach interpreters of our time turns his attention to the composer’s preferred instrument. The sound of the clavichord is, says András Schiff, an invitation into “a new world, a quiet oasis in our noisy, troubled times. Thanks to the clavichord I now play and hear Bach differently.” An intimate and personal instrument – “a most gentle creature, ideal for playing alone” – it can also be, as Schiff notes, a demanding and unforgiving teacher. “On the clavichord we have only our fingers at our disposal, they must create the music with the finest gradations of touch.”  The early keyboard works are emphasized here, bringing us closer to the sounds of Bach’s day, and the “cantabile art” of the clavichord. The album opens with the Capriccio sopra la lontananza del fratro dilettissmo, journeys through Inventions and Sinfonias, and concludes with an extraordinary account of the Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue.  On this recording, Schiff’s first on the clavichord, he plays a replica of a 1743 Specken instrument, built by Belgian craftsman Joris Potvlieghe.  The album was recorded in the Kammermusik Saal of Bonn’s Beethoven-Haus and produced by Manfred Eicher.

Tracklist:

CD1

Capriccio sopra la lontananza de il fratro dilettissimo, BWV 992 (1-6)

1. Ist eine Schmeichelung der Freunde, um denselben von der Reise abzuhalten. Arioso. Adagio
2. Ist eine Vorstellung unterschiedlicher Casuum, die ihm der Fremde könnten vorfallen

1. Ist ein allgemeines Lamento der Freunde. Adagissimo

1. Allhier kommen die Freunde, weil sie doch sehen, dass es anders nicht kann sein, und nehmen Abschied

1. Aria di Postiglione. Adagio poco
2. Fugue all'imitatione della cornetta di postiglione

15 Inventions, BWV 772-786 (7-24)

1. No. 1 in C Major, BWV 772
2. No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 773
3. No. 3 in D Major, BWV 774
4. No. 4 in D Minor, BWV 775
5. No. 5 in E-Flat Major, BWV 776
6. No. 6 in E Major, BWV 777
7. No. 7 in E Minor, BWV 778
8. No. 8 in F Major, BWV 779
9. No. 9 in F Minor, BWV 780
10. No. 10 in G Major, BWV 781
11. No. 11 in G Minor, BWV 782
12. No. 12 No. 12 in A Major, BWV 783
13. No. 13 in A Minor, BWV 784
14. No. 14 in B-Flat Major, BWV 785
15. No. 15 in B Minor, BWV 786

4 Duettos, BWV 802-805 (22-25)

1. No. 1 in E Minor, BWV 802
2. No. 2 in F Major, BWV 803
3. No. 3 in G Major, BWV 804
4. No. 4 in A Minor, BWV 805

1. Musical Offering, BWV 1079. Ricercar a 3

CD2

15 Sinfonias, BWV 787-801 (1-15)

1. No. 1 in C Major, BWV 787
2. No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 788
3. No. 3 in D Major, BWV 789
4. No. 4 in D Minor, BWV 790
5. No. 5 in E-Flat Major, BWV 791
6. No. 6 in E Major, BWV 792
7. No. 7 in E Minor, BWV 793
8. No. 8 in F Major, BWV 794
9. No. 9 in F Minor, BWV 795
10. No. 10 in G Major, BWV 796
11. No. 11 in G Minor, BWV 797
12. No. 12 in A Major, BWV 798
13. No. 13 in A Minor, BWV 799
14. No. 14 in B-Flat Major, BWV 800
15. No. 15 in B Minor, BWV 801

Chromatic Fantasia And Fugue In D Minor, BWV 903

1. Fantasia
2. Fugue