John Smyth wrote:

>Surely you are familiar with Kenneth Gilbert's Bach?  I don't
>particularly care for the harpsichord either, but I find Gilbert's
>choice of instrument, (and the Archiv recordings), very gratifying.

I share John's preference.  Gilbert is a superb artist; his Art of
the Fugue is my favorite, and I love his classic WTC and many other
interpretations.  Gilbert, along with Leonhardt, Roussset, Hantai, and
Kipnis are the cream of harpsichordists.  Please accept a short plug for
the Kipnis account of Bach's Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue on Arabesque;
this is one thrilling performance.

Actually, Bach's violin sonatas are an excellent vehicle for deciding if
you like period instruments, especially if you use the Virgin recording by
Holloway.  I think it blows the competition away.  If you don't like that
recording, you better go modern.

Don Satz
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