J.S. Bach: Clavichord

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As with his previous period-instrument ventures, Schiff opens up a new world and thoroughly adjusts his temperament, his ‘pianism’ and his artistry to it. — Gramophone Magazine, April 2023 More…

Release Date: 27th Jan 2023
Catalogue No: 4857948
Label: ECM
Length: 83 minutes

Presto Recording of the Week

27th January 2023
Record Review

11th February 2023

Record of the Week
Gramophone Magazine

April 2023

Editor's Choice
Gramophone Awards

2023

Shortlisted - Instrumental
Presto Recordings of the Year

Finalist 2023
International Classical Music Awards

2024

Nominated - Baroque Instrumental
Gramophone Magazine

Critics' Choice 2023
Gramophone Magazine

Critics' Choice 2023

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Bach, J S: Capriccio sopra la lontananza del suo fratello dilettissimo, BWV992

Work length9:27

$6.60

$9.00

$12.30

András Schiff (clavichord)
Recorded: 2018-07
Recording Venue: Beethoven-Haus, Bonn

I. Ist eine Schmeichelung der Freunde, um denselben von der Reise abzuhalten. Arioso. Adagio

Track length1:31

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

II. Ist eine Vorstellung unterschiedlicher Casuum, die ihm der Fremde könnten vorfallen

Track length1:12

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III. Ist ein allgemeines Lamento der Freunde. Adagissimo

Track length2:05

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

Track length0:36

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V. Aria di Postiglione. Adagio poco

Track length1:36

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VI. Fugue all’imitatione della cornetta di postiglione

Track length2:27

$1.10

$1.50

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Bach, J S: Two-part Inventions Nos. 1-15, BWV772-786

Work length21:28

$16.50

$22.50

$30.75

András Schiff (clavichord)
Recorded: 2018-07
Recording Venue: Beethoven-Haus, Bonn

No. 1 in C Major, BWV 772

Track length1:28

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 773

Track length1:50

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

No. 3 in D Major, BWV 774

Track length1:14

$1.10

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No. 4 in D Minor, BWV 775

Track length0:45

$1.10

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No. 5 in E-Flat Major, BWV 776

Track length1:24

$1.10

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No. 6 in E Major, BWV 777

Track length3:24

$1.10

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No. 7 in E Minor, BWV 778

Track length1:41

$1.10

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No. 8 in F Major, BWV 779

Track length0:56

$1.10

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No. 9 in F Minor, BWV 780

Track length1:45

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No. 10 in G Major, BWV 781

Track length0:58

$1.10

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No. 11 in G Minor, BWV 782

Track length0:59

$1.10

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No. 12 No. 12 in A Major, BWV 783

Track length1:12

$1.10

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No. 13 in A Minor, BWV 784

Track length1:22

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No. 14 in B-Flat Major, BWV 785

Track length1:20

$1.10

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No. 15 in B Minor, BWV 786

Track length1:10

$1.10

$1.50

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Bach, J S: Duets Nos. 1-4, BWV802-805

Work length11:18

$4.40

$6.00

$8.20

András Schiff (clavichord)
Recorded: 2018-07
Recording Venue: Beethoven-Haus, Bonn

No. 1 in E Minor, BWV 802

Track length3:02

$1.10

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No. 2 in F Major, BWV 803

Track length2:58

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No. 3 in G Major, BWV 804

Track length3:08

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No. 4 in A Minor, BWV 805

Track length2:10

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Excerpt, Bach, J S: Musical Offering, BWV1079

Work length5:50

$1.10

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András Schiff (clavichord)
Recorded: 2018-07
Recording Venue: Beethoven-Haus, Bonn

Ricercar a 3

Track length5:50

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Bach, J S: Three-part Inventions (Sinfonias) Nos. 1-15, BWV787-801

Work length24:45

$16.50

$22.50

$30.75

András Schiff (clavichord)
Recorded: 2018-07
Recording Venue: Beethoven-Haus, Bonn

No. 1 in C Major, BWV 787

Track length1:08

$1.10

$1.50

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No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 788

Track length2:07

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No. 3 in D Major, BWV 789

Track length1:13

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No. 4 in D Minor, BWV 790

Track length1:45

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No. 5 in E-Flat Major, BWV 791

Track length2:07

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No. 6 in E Major, BWV 792

Track length1:20

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No. 7 in E Minor, BWV 793

Track length2:06

$1.10

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No. 8 in F Major, BWV 794

Track length0:59

$1.10

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No. 9 in F Minor, BWV 795

Track length3:03

$1.10

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No. 10 in G Major, BWV 796

Track length1:05

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No. 11 in G Minor, BWV 797

Track length1:55

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No. 12 in A Major, BWV 798

Track length1:29

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No. 13 in A Minor, BWV 799

Track length1:41

$1.10

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No. 14 in B-Flat Major, BWV 800

Track length1:18

$1.10

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No. 15 in B Minor, BWV 801

Track length1:29

$1.10

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Bach, J S: Chromatic Fantasia & Fugue in D minor, BWV903

Work length10:44

$2.20

$3.00

$4.10

András Schiff (clavichord)
Recorded: 2018-07
Recording Venue: Beethoven-Haus, Bonn

I. Fantasia

Track length5:43

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

II. Fugue

Track length5:01

$1.10

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Recording of the Week, Well-tempered Bach on the clavichord from András Schiff

27th January 2023

An oft-neglected early keyboard instrument finally gets its moment in the sun in an intimate programme of Bach that plays to its strengths, built around the two-part and three-part inventions.

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 Andrs 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.

Reviews

April 2023

As with his previous period-instrument ventures, Schiff opens up a new world and thoroughly adjusts his temperament, his ‘pianism’ and his artistry to it.

27th January 2023

In many ways the clavichord’s tone is perfect for this kind of music – less harsh than the bright sound of the harpsichord, which can be difficult to adjust to, yet having enough of an attack to make polyphonic textures transparent and clear in a way that they might not be on the organ. It’s the best of both worlds – making some of the brisker numbers (the two-part inventions in D minor, F major and G major, for instance) really jump off the page.

19th February 2023

In the two-part inventions Nos 1-15, the three-part sinfonias Nos 1-15, the duets Nos 1-4 and other JS Bach works, Schiff makes a persuasive case, if not a definitive one, for the clavichord as an equally revelatory vehicle for the pieces as harpsichord or piano.

Offer,J.S. Bach: Clavichord

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Recording of the Week, Well-tempered Bach on the clavichord from András Schiff

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