Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Leopold Godowsky, Konstantin Scherbakov :: Godowsky: Piano Music, Vol. 2

Bach transcribed -- and transfigured

Michael Whincop | GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY, QLD AUSTRALIA | 10/14/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Purists, avaunt! Godowsky's transcribed violin sonatas are remarkably free and imaginative with Bach's originals -- they add chunks of new material, revise tempos, etc etc. They go much further than even a work like the Busoni transcription of the d minor Chaconne. These works will be of much interest to anyone who likes late romantic piano music, or anyone who likes to hear what the violin sonatas might sound like in a whole new medium. If you would prefer something a bit more restrained you could sample volume IV of the Fioretino edition -- he has his own version of the g minor, which is closer to the original. Buy them both. Scherbakov has the technique to play these works. He breasts their formidable challenges with ease, although he's perhaps not quite convincing enough to make you think that you never want to hear these works in any other form. My favourite work on the disk is the a minor sonata. The "Aria" third movement is gorgeous -- it's one instance where the originals take a distant second place. The anaologous movement in the g minor work is also lovely, as is the sarabande from the b minor largo. As between Scherbakov and Grante on M & A, I don't see very much to choose between the two. Best listen to them first."