- Audio CD (13 Nov 2006)
- Number of Discs: 155
- Format: Box set
- Label: Brilliant Classics
- ASIN: B000GCG8Y4
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 111,889 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If like me, you have a consuming passion for the music of Bach, and you're looking at this webpage, then do not delay in ordering this boxset. I braced myself, clicked a few times, and now here I sit basking in the glory of nearly 7 whole days' worth of Bach (and that's if you sat and listened to it all, with no breaks, day and night!). I have listened to days' worth of music, but still barely broken the back of the collection. There still remains so much to explore of Bach's genius, and time I hear a new piece I am thrilled and astounded afresh. It's very difficult to believe that a lone human being was capable of producing such music!
It's difficult to distill the worth of this collection into so short a review, but put quite simply, the Bach Edition Boxset is a masterpiece, sold for less than a third what I'd expect to pay for it. The publishers at Brilliant Classics really have done the planet a favour. The quality of recording does indeed vary, but is generally superb or good. Whilst personal preference leads me to prefer some other recordings to those in the Boxset, none of the recordings is intolerable; all are charming, useful and form a brilliant point of comparison for those recordings you might prefer in some instances.
Some reviewers have complained at the continuous use of the harpsichord throughout the keyboard works CDs, but I find this touching and authentic; if nothing else, you're less likely to buy harpsichord editions of the CDs in the future, and I consider hearing the music as Bach may have done to be a wonderful thought. The keyboardists recorded on the set are universally renowned, and the different types of harpsichords used for some of the CDs provide a welcome blend. Parts of Die Kunst Der Fuge are even arranged for clavichord, purportedly Bach's favourite instrument, whilst the works for lute and viola da gamba found elsewhere on the CD add lustre and a spate of more unusual timbres to the collection.
It is worth mentioning also that many of the pieces available in the Edition Boxset are nigh-impossible to find anywhere else, and certainly a collection of this size if bought by piecemeal stages would cost many, many times more to acquire. Having uploaded the CDs to my computer, I am now able to type in any BWV number between one and a thousand and something-or-other, and within seconds the music streams out of my speakers. It's glorious.
Do yourself and JS a favour. Buy this set, or, if you really want to make someone grin wildly, order it for any friend who suspect might have a secret passion for Bach!
CD
It's difficult to distill the worth of this collection into so short a review, but put quite simply, the Bach Edition Boxset is a masterpiece, sold for less than a third what I'd expect to pay for it. The publishers at Brilliant Classics really have done the planet a favour. The quality of recording does indeed vary, but is generally superb or good. Whilst personal preference leads me to prefer some other recordings to those in the Boxset, none of the recordings is intolerable; all are charming, useful and form a brilliant point of comparison for those recordings you might prefer in some instances.
Some reviewers have complained at the continuous use of the harpsichord throughout the keyboard works CDs, but I find this touching and authentic; if nothing else, you're less likely to buy harpsichord editions of the CDs in the future, and I consider hearing the music as Bach may have done to be a wonderful thought. The keyboardists recorded on the set are universally renowned, and the different types of harpsichords used for some of the CDs provide a welcome blend. Parts of Die Kunst Der Fuge are even arranged for clavichord, purportedly Bach's favourite instrument, whilst the works for lute and viola da gamba found elsewhere on the CD add lustre and a spate of more unusual timbres to the collection.
It is worth mentioning also that many of the pieces available in the Edition Boxset are nigh-impossible to find anywhere else, and certainly a collection of this size if bought by piecemeal stages would cost many, many times more to acquire. Having uploaded the CDs to my computer, I am now able to type in any BWV number between one and a thousand and something-or-other, and within seconds the music streams out of my speakers. It's glorious.
Do yourself and JS a favour. Buy this set, or, if you really want to make someone grin wildly, order it for any friend who suspect might have a secret passion for Bach!
CD
33 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Brilliant are just that, brilliant. They are on a mission to bring good music to the masses as cheaply as possible and they do this admirably through their box sets. I'd already got the Complete Mozart and was impressed with the quality of those recordings so it wasn't too much of a gamble to purchase the Bach set. I did not make a mistake, the recordings are first class, all of them. Notable are the complete organ works which are the legendary Hans Fagius / BIS set and the Jacob Lindburg / BIS Lute Suites. Many of the cantatas and other choral works are recorded especially for Brilliant by leading specialists in early music including such stars as The Sixteen, Roy Goodman, Peter Schreier, Rogers Covey-Crump, Michael George, Emma Kirkby & Michael Chance and the performances are as good as I've heard. The standard for this box set is consistently high so if you are in the market for a lot Bach then you can't go wrong, especially at the price.
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Though I have my favourites by now, and I must admit some of the cds are just hard to bear, this is a great set. The organ works set, comprised of 17 cds by the great Hans Fagius, or the 12 cds of the keyboard works, plus the complete set of cantatas are more than enough reasons to buy this.
Of course there are better performances of most of these recordings. In some cases, the ones included in this box are my favourites ever, as with the English Suites by von Asperen or the Joseph Payne's French suites.
The cantatas are in general excellent. I don't mind the short time in which they were recorded. Of course there are flaws, but tell me only one set that doesn't have them. I have my reservations about even the best sets by Gardiner or Koopman.
There are at least 50 cds you will find excellent, which makes this set worth buying.
Of course there are better performances of most of these recordings. In some cases, the ones included in this box are my favourites ever, as with the English Suites by von Asperen or the Joseph Payne's French suites.
The cantatas are in general excellent. I don't mind the short time in which they were recorded. Of course there are flaws, but tell me only one set that doesn't have them. I have my reservations about even the best sets by Gardiner or Koopman.
There are at least 50 cds you will find excellent, which makes this set worth buying.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Incomplete Bach
I bought this item over a year ago and recently discovered that the slipcase for CD V-23 contained a duplicate of CD V-29. So I had two copies of CD V-29 and none of CD V-23. Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2009 by R. J. Hoole
Not the best Bach
I brought these CDs specifically because I am an organist (I play at numerous churches) so would like to hear exactly how some of the more obscure works are played. Read more
Published on 23 Sep 2008 by D. Burnett
BACH AT A BARGAIN
This is a great bargain. I am thoroughly enjoying this great collection. My children and I play various musical instruments and sometimes in learning a new piece be it a flute or a... Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2007 by Uenna
Barking Mad Bach
This neatly presented 155 CD box set includes the entire lifetime works of the great JS Bach. This is an incredible achievement which should be appreciated by everyone, and... Read more
Published on 9 May 2007 by Mart Music
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