Donald Scarinci suggested developing a basic Bach library of recordings,
a topic which is just in line with my sympathies.
I'll try not to make this very long:
Art of Fugue - MacGregor (Collins) and Nikolayeva (Hyperion) on piano.
Leonhardt (Vanguard) and Gilbert (Archiv) on harpsichord. Koito
(Temperaments) on organ. Keller Quartet (ECM) and Savall (Astree)
for ensemble readings.
Anna Magdalena Notebook - Ameling/Leonhardt (DHM) and McGegan (HM).
Brandenburg Concertos - Pinnock and Goebel (both Archiv).
Cantatas - Herreweghe (HM) where available. Kooopman (Erato), Suzuki
(BIS), and Rifkin (Decca) to fill in the holes.
Organ Works - Preston (DG), Herrick (Hyperion), and Hurford (Decca).
Christmas Oratorio - Gardiner on Archiv.
Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue - Kipnis on Arabesque.
Harsichord Concerti - Pinnock (Archiv), Alessandrini (Opus 111), and
Hantai (Astree).
Violin Concerti - Standage (Chandos), Kuijken (DHM), and Manze (HM).
Easter Oratorio - Herreweghe (HM).
English Suites - Leonhardt (EMI) on harpsichord. Martins (Concord) on
piano.
French Suites - Jarrett (ECM) and Koopman (Erato) on harpsichord.
Gavrilov (EMI) and Hewitt (Hyperion) on piano.
Goldberg Variations - Hantai (Opus 111), Leonhardt (DHM), and Rousset
(Decca) on harpsichord. Tipo (EMI), Tureck (DG and Philips), and Gould
(Sony 1955) on piano.
Inventions - Suzuki (BIS) and Leonhardt (Sony) on harpsichord. Schiff
(Decca) and Peter Serkin (RCA) on piano.
Italian Concerto - Staier (DHM) on harpsichord. Hewitt (DG) on piano.
Magnificat in D - Gardiner on Philips.
Mass in b - Gardiner on Archiv.
Motets - Herreweghe on Harmonia Mundi.
A Musical Offering - Music from Aston Magna (Centaur) and Goebel(Archiv).
Partitas - Rousset (Decca) and Leonhardt (DHM) on harpsichord.
Schepkin (Ongaku) and Tureck (Philips) on piano.
St. John Passion - Suzuki on BIS.
St. Matthew Passion - Herreweghe on Harmonia Mundi (both versions).
Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin - Kuijken (DHM) and Huggett (Virgin).
Flute Sonatas - See/Moroney on Harmonia Mundi.
Viol & Harpsichord Sonatas - Bylsma (Sony), Kuijken (DHM), and
Pandolfo (Harmoni Mundi).
Violin & Harpsichord Sonatas - On the Virgin label - I just can't recall
the artists. Help!
Solo Cello Suites - Casals (EMI), Bylsma (Sony Vivarte), and
Dieltens (Accent).
Orchestral Suites - Goebel on Archiv.
Toccatas for Harpsichord - Tilney (Dorian) on harpsichord. Gould (Sony) on
piano.
Well Tempered Clavier - Leonhardt (DHM) and Gilbert (Archiv) on
harpsichord. Schepkin (Ongaku), Horszowski (Vanguard), Gould (Sony),
and Aldwell (Nonesuch) on piano.
What's great about the world of Bach recordings is how many more
excellent recordings there are that I did not list. I've commented on
many that I did list. They all have one thing in common in my view -
exciting interpretations that work and provide me with all the images,
stories, and insight I could possibly want (at this time).
I did not include any chamber music, orchestral music, or vocal music on
modern instruments. That's not my area, and most comments I would have
would be of the second-hand nature. I'm confident we have list members
who could develop excellent library recordings for modern instruments.
Of course, any basic library needs to be a "living" one. Great new
recordings are issued frequently, and I find that many of them compare
well to what already exists. As examples, I have yet to hear Tureck's
1950's account of the WTC or Suzuki's recording of the Christmas Oratorio.
Standings can and will change over time.
Don Satz
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