Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, George Malcolm :: Bach: The 6 Flute Sonatas

William Bennett and George Malcolm in the Bach Flute Sonatas

M. Levitt - classical music buff | Philadelphia, PA | 01/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This evidently is a reissue.



I have Jean Pierre Rampal and Robert Veyron Lacroix performing the Bach Flute Sonatas on cassette, and wanted a CD recording of these lovely pieces. William Bennett and George Malcolm fit the bill. Theirs is a fine CD on several counts: expert, highly musical playing; all 6 Bach flute sonatas on one CD; clear sound; and budget price. William Bennett has a beautiful, liquid tone, and George Malcolm is a superb harpsichordist. Both musicians are balanced well, in a clear, up front acoustic, with Bennett seeming to be slightly forward, and Malcolm in a supportive role.William Bennett plays a modern flute. The give and take between Bennett and Malcolm is superb.



A most enjoyable disc, highly recommended."

A good performance, at a bargain price

Ross Kennett | Narooma, NSW Australia | 07/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bach wrote his flute sonatas in the period 1717 to 1722 when in Cohen,and when the transverse flute was a relatively new instrument. These sonatas are not Bach's greatest works, but are pleasant and tuneful. I chose this version as I am familiar with the names of William Bennett and George Malcolm, all 6 sonatas are on the one CD, and it is a reissue at bargain price! I am not sure when the recording was made, tiny writing on the packaging suggests 1978, but that is a bit early for a DDD recording. The notes are clearly wrong with the date of the flute, again 1978, long after the maker died, 1878 would be likely.

So it is a modern flute used here, I would have prefered the gentler tone of a baroque flute, and the flute is a little dominant, which was the custom in the early 1980s, even though for the first 3 sonatas Bach clearly indicated that the harpsichord was an equal partner; however I did not find that a major problem. That aside, the performances are very good, clear and open, the music dances along nicely.

A rating; I would like to give it 4.5, but half stars are not allowed, so I will be a little generous and make it 5."