JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

 

The Well-Tempered Clavier

 

Walter Gieseking, piano

 

The German pianist Walter Gieseking was born in Lyon in 1895, and died in London in 1956. Trained in Naples and Hanover, he served in the First World War, then resumed his career touring Europe and gained a reputation as one of the most remarkable pianists of his generation. His performances became famous for their refinement and exquisite command of nuance. His repertoire ranged from the Austro-German greats to the French impressionists, especially the music of Debussy.

 

Gieseking was also a champion of new music, and possessed a photographic memory of scores. In 1950, to mark the 200th anniversary of Bach’s death, he made many recordings for Saar Radio, which included all of Bach’s keyboard music. The performance on these discs was never intended for commercial release, and Gieseking had never played the entire Well-Tempered Clavier in concert – but it has all the hallmarks of his style: rhythmic freedom, a feeling of improvisation (entirely germane to Bach), and a sense of fluidity.

 

‘His tone is attractive (warmed by a little pedal) and subtly nuanced, his phrasing is musicianly, he gives the fugues (often long, in this book) control and cohesion; there is gentleness in the E flat major Prelude and lightness in that in G major; and stylistically there are some informed features – double-dotting in the F sharp major Fugue, inegale treatment of the quaver pairs in the D major Prelude.’ Gramophone, November 1990

 

Newton Classics 3cds 8802014