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Track Listings
| 1. Fantasia in C Minor, | |||
| 2. Invention 1 in C major | |||
| 3. Invention 2 in C minor | |||
| 4. Invention 3 in D major | |||
| 5. Invention 4 in D minor | |||
| 6. Invention 5 in E flat major | |||
| 7. Invention 6 in E major | |||
| 8. Invention 7 in E minor | |||
| 9. Invention 8 in F major | |||
| 10. Invention 9 in F minor | |||
| 11. Invention 10 in G major | |||
| 12. Invention 11 in G minor | |||
| 13. Invention 12 in A major | |||
| 14. Invention 13 in A minor | |||
| 15. Invention 14 in B flat major | |||
| 16. Invention 15 in B minor | |||
| 17. Sinfonia 1 in C Major | |||
| 18. Sinfonia 2 in C Minor | |||
| 19. Sinfonia 3 in D Major | |||
| 20. Sinfonia 4 in D Minor | |||
See all 33 tracks on this disc
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Product Description
Review
GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE 'As close to how I would choose to hear [the music] as I have yet had the pleasure of doing' --Gramophone
'Performances of exemplary clarity and craftsmanship' --CDReview
'Performances of exemplary clarity and craftsmanship' --CDReview
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Alan Lekan
Format:Audio CD
Recorded in 1994, this is the first of Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt's traversal of Bach's major keyboard works. The program ranges from the more simple of Bach's compositions (Two-Part Inventions) to some of the most trecherous, virtuostic masterpieces (the two fantasias). Written by Bach for his son and students around 1723, the Two-Part and Three-Part Inventions form the foundational know-how and skills of Bach's countrapuntal keyboard art. For centuries now these works have been essential for any piano student learning the "basics" of figuration, melodic line, smooth legato, clarity of two and three voices and so on. As such they are pre-requisite for learning the more complex preludes and fugues of "The Well-Tempered Clavier." Like the pieces in the WTC, both sets of Inventions show Bach as both a master educator and deft lyricist with their range of emotive qualities. There is delicacy, pensiveness, vivacity, virtuosity and sorrow expressed in these miniatures - all while building the foundational skills (like seamless legato w/o use of the pedal) necessary for performing the major piano repertoire. Pianists worldwide owe a world of gratitude for Johann Sebastian Bach for such foundations in western music.
I'm not sure if it is Bach's skillful writing or Miss Hewitt's skillful and varied expressive playing, but these so-called "piano excercises" sound anything but that. Likely, it is both of the above factors. It was in this first recording that Hewitt showed the music world her ever-so delicate, poised and artistic pianistic mannerisms, transforming these student pieces into delightful little concerts in themselves. As such, her readings here are worthy role models for students focusing on the long, clear, lyrical line that is essential to Bach's music.
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By Steve 2010
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Whilst not as great a work as the 48 or the Goldbergs, nevertheless the pieces on this cd are superb. Angela Hewitt - as has been said before is a great exponent of Bach - pure joy for me.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Scriabinmahler
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
Refinement and elegance of her playing is pretty impressive at first hearing, but this is not the kind of performance I want to come back repeatedly. It's matter of personal taste, but for me Bach should be played with much depth and sense of awe. Maybe I'm too old fashioned, but whatever she plays sounds like light music and as if something is missing despite all the praises heaped upon her by critics and listeners alike.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
It seems highly likely that these 'Inventions' were composed by Bach with his pupils in mind, intending them as exercises or studies which would help them to understand and perform his more impressive works, at a later stage. They are by nature therefore, rather technical pieces and to make them into a pleasuable musical experience is not an easy task. Miss Hewitt overcomes this problem with ease however and gives us a feast of musicality not often heard in this type of Bach. This, combined with her usual flawless performance technique, makes for most agreeable listening and I would commend this recording to anyone. Students coming to Bach for the first time particularly, could learn a lot about how to make his music live. The two more major works are,of course, played with equal fire, charm and dexterity.
10 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Hewitt refuses to let a phrase speak for itself during the whole performance. She feels the need to undulate, exaggerate with crescendos and dimuendos at each juncture. The tempi chosen are either excessively fast (e.g. the C minor 3-part invention) or excruciatingly slow (e.g. the B minor 3-part invention). The technique is almost too flawless, too much power in the fingers creating a forced tone, ungentle tone in louder passages. I can't quite understand the choice of the splattered trill in the far too fast 1st Invention in C or the all too ungentle rendering of the A minor invention. These pieces are written by J.S. Bach who never wrote anything solely as a technicial workout. They really are wonderful lyrical masterpieces and to hear them treated as such listen to Glenn Gould's recording of them. His recording has its faults, true, but the overall affect it overwhelingly more touching.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the second time I have bought this CD. When I went to play it after a recent review, I found it had mysteriously disappeared. Since I must have this performance, I have bought it again. I believe that this was Angela Hewitt's first recording for Hyperion, and I had not heard of her until I first heard an extract from the recording. I have bought all of her Cds that have appeared since. She appears to be able to combine the best elements of the harpsichord (without its annoying jangliness) with the clarity of the modern piano. The performances are impeccable. The Inventions are all too often heard as training pieces for budding pianists. Here they are heard as music. I can't wait for her next release.
2 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
If your answer to the captioned question is YES, then chances are their music teacher will have had them play a couple of big-daddy Bach's beautiful 2 and 3 Part Inventions at some point. Sadly, these simple but elegant pieces are seldom played oustside the rooms of music teachers. On this CD Angela Hewitt showcases all 30 of these mini-gems perfectly. Buy it for the nostalgia!
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