Johann Sebastian Bach - Piano Transcriptions Vol. 6 - Walter Rummel (Jonathan Plowright)

Information

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

CD1:

1. Ertöt uns durch dein Güte (No. 5, Choral from Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe, BWV 22) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
2. Overture (No. 1, Coro from Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig, BWV 26) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
3. Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier, BWV 731 (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
4. Vater unser im Himmelreich, BWV 760 (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
5. Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan (No. 6, Choral from Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, BWV 99) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
6. Das alte Jahr vergangen ist, BWV 614 (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
7. Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn (Versus 3 of Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
8. Wir eilen mit schwachen  (No. 2, Aria (Duetto) from Jesu, der du meine Seele, BWV 78) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
9. Sinfonia (No. 1 of Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
10. Mein gläubiges Herze (No. 2, Aria from Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt, BWV 68) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
11. O Menschen, die ihr täglich sündigt (No. 2, Aria from Das neugeborne Kindelein, BWV 122) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
12. Das Brausen von den rauen Winden (No. 6, Aria of Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn, BWV 92) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
13. Die Welt ist wie ein Rauch und Schatten (Movement 2 of Was frag ich nach der Welt, BWV 94) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
14. Zu Tanze, zu Sprunge 'Pan's dancing song' (Movement 7 of Der Streit zwischen Phoebus und Pan 'Geschwinde, ihr wirbeln den Winde', BWV 201) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)

CD2:

1. Sinfonia (No. 1 of Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal, BWV 146) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
2. Dein Name gleich der Sonnen geh (Movement 7 of Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173a) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
3. Lass dich nimmer von der Liebe berücken 'Chi in amore ha nemica la sorte' (Movement 3 of Amore traditore, BWV 203) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
4. Stürze zu Boden, schwülstige Stolze! (No. 4, Aria from Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort, BWV 126) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
5. Dich hab ich je und je geliebet (No. 6, Aria con Choral from Ich geh und suche mit Verlangen, BWV 49) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
6. O Gott, du frommer Gott! (Movement 1 of Was frag ich nach der Welt, BWV 94) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
7. Esurientes implevit bonis (Movement 9 of Magnificat, BWV 243) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
8. Gelobet sei mein Gott (No. 5, Choral from Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott, BWV 129) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
9. Die Seele ruht in Jesu Händen  (No. 3, Aria from Herr Jesu Christ, wahr' Mensch und Gott, BWV 127) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
10. Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir (No. 1, Coro (Choral) from Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir, BWV 130) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)
11. Vom Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her (Part 1 No. 9 of Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248) (arr. Walter Morse Rummel)

Jonathan Plowright, piano
Date: 2006
Label: Hyperion
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67481/2

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Review

Magnificent thunder and half-lit magic – performances unlikely to be equalled

Volume six of Hyperion’s intriguing Bach piano transcription series consists of 25 arrangements by Walter Rummel (1887-1953), whose devotion to his source and cause is evident in every enthralling bar. A true Romantic, he nonetheless remains movingly true to Bach’s spirit and he could hardly have a more persuasive interpreter than Jonathan Plowright. How richly satisfying to hear playing of such unimpeachable musical honesty and awe-inspiring pianistic grandeur; Gilels himself never produced a richer, more full-blooded sonority.

But if Plowright produces a truly magnificent thunder in Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig, it would be no less hard to find his musical equal in the flickering half-lit magic of Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her or, in Die Seele ruht in Jesu Händen, what Charles Timbrell calls, in his admirable essay, ‘12 minutes of musical devotion, unique in the repertoire of Bach transcriptions’. Here, surely, is the finest among one awe-inspiring performance after another.

Time and again you are reminded of real technique as opposed to a more familiar, glib and colourless alternative, and it is surely no exaggeration to say that if such playing is anything to go by you are listening to one of the finest living pianists; the possessor of qualities that should no longer remain a secret. Hyperion’s sound is of demonstration quality, a crowning touch to musical and pianistic greatness. These are treasurable records.

-- Bryce Morrison, Gramophone

More reviews:
ClassicsToday  ARTISTIC QUALITY: 10 / SOUND QUALITY: 10
http://www.classical-music.com/review/bachrummel
http://www.allmusic.com/album/bach-piano-transcriptsions-vol-6-walter-rummel-mw0001401427
https://www.amazon.com/Bach-Piano-Transcriptions-Vol-Walter/dp/B000EFTE8A

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Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March [O.S. 21 March] 1685 – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period. Bach enriched established German styles through his mastery of counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organisation, and his adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from Italy and France. He is known for instrumental compositions such as the Brandenburg Concertos and the Goldberg Variations, and vocal music such as the St Matthew Passion and the Mass in B minor. Since the 19th-century Bach Revival he has been generally regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Sebastian_Bach

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Jonathan Plowright (born 1959 in Yorkshire) is a British concert pianist. He studied with Alexander Kelly at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and with Julio Esteban at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. His USA debut was at Carnegie Hall in 1984, followed by his UK debut in 1985, at Wigmore Hall. Plowright performed worldwide as recitalist, appeared with leading orchestras and ensembles, made many commercial recordings and appeared on radio and TV broadcasts. He championed neglected music from Polish Romantic composers, Stojowski, Paderewski and Melcer, which he has recorded for Hyperion Records.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Plowright

http://www.jonathanplowright.com/

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