Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier / Schornsheim

$20.99
Label
Capriccio
Release Date
January 31, 2012
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      BACH, JOHANN SEBASTIAN
    • PERFORMER
      Christine Schornsheim
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      January 31, 2012
    • UPC
      845221071152
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      C7115
    • LABEL
      Capriccio
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      4
    • GENRE
      Instrumental
    Works ⌄

    1. Prelude No. 1 in C Major, BWV 846

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    2. Fugue No. 1 in C Major, BWV 846

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    3. Prelude No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 847

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    4. Fugue No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 847

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    5. Prelude No. 3 in C-Sharp Major, BWV 848

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    6. Fugue No. 3 in C-Sharp Major, BWV 848

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    7. Prelude No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor, BWV 849

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    8. Fugue No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor, BWV 849

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    9. Prelude No. 5 in D Major, BWV 850

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    10. Fugue No. 5 in D Major, BWV 850

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    11. Prelude No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 851

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    12. Fugue No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 851

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    13. Prelude No. 7 in E-Flat Major, BWV 852

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    14. Fugue No. 7 in E-Flat Major, BWV 852

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    15. Prelude No. 8 in E-Flat Minor, BWV 853

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    16. Fugue No. 8 in D-Sharp Minor, BWV 853

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    17. Prelude No. 9 in E Major, BWV 854

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    18. Fugue No. 9 in E Major, BWV 854

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    19. Prelude No. 10 in E Minor, BWV 855

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    20. Fugue No. 10 in E Minor, BWV 855

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    21. Prelude No. 11 in F Major, BWV 856

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    22. Fugue No. 11 in F Major, BWV 856

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    23. Prelude No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 857

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    24. Fugue No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 857

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    25. Prelude No. 13 in F-Sharp Major, BWV 858

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    26. Fugue No. 13 in F-Sharp Major, BWV 858

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    27. Prelude No. 14 in F-Sharp Minor, BWV 859

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    28. Fugue No. 14 in F-Sharp Minor, BWV 859

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    29. Prelude No. 15 in G Major, BWV 860

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    30. Fugue No. 15 in G Major, BWV 860

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    31. Prelude No. 16 in G Minor, BWV 861

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    32. Fugue No. 16 in G Minor, BWV 861

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    33. Prelude No. 17 in A-Flat Major, BWV 862

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    34. Fugue No. 17 in A-Flat Major, BWV 862

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    35. Prelude No. 18 in G-Sharp Minor, BWV 863

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    36. Fugue No. 18 in G-Sharp Minor, BWV 863

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    37. Prelude No. 19 in A Major, BWV 864

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    38. Fugue No. 19 in A Major, BWV 864

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    39. Prelude No. 20 in A Minor, BWV 865

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    40. Fugue No. 20 in A Minor, BWV 865

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    41. Prelude No. 21 in B-Flat Major, BWV 866

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    42. Fugue No. 21 in B-Flat Major, BWV 866

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    43. Prelude No. 22 in B-Flat Minor, BWV 867

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    44. Fugue No. 22 in B-Flat Minor, BWV 867

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    45. Prelude No. 23 in B Major, BWV 868

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    46. Fugue No. 23 in B Major, BWV 868

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    47. Prelude No. 24 in B Minor, BWV 869

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    48. Fugue No. 24 in B Minor, BWV 869

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    49. Prelude No. 1 in C Major, BWV 870

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    50. Fugue No. 1 in C Major, BWV 870

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    51. Prelude No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 871

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    52. Fugue No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 871

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    53. Prelude No. 3 in C-Sharp Major, BWV 872

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    54. Fugue No. 3 in C-Sharp Major, BWV 872

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    55. Prelude No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor, BWV 873

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    56. Fugue No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor, BWV 873

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    57. Prelude No. 5 in D Major, BWV 874

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    58. Fugue No. 5 in D Major, BWV 874

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    59. Prelude No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 875

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    60. Fugue No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 875

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    61. Prelude No. 7 in E-Flat Major, BWV 876

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    62. Fugue No. 7 in E-Flat Major, BWV 876

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    63. Prelude No. 8 in D-Sharp Minor, BWV 877

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    64. Fugue No. 8 in D-Sharp Minor, BWV 877

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    65. Prelude No. 9 in E Major, BWV 878

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    66. Fugue No. 9 in E Major, BWV 878

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    67. Prelude No. 10 in E Minor, BWV 879

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    68. Fugue No. 10 in E Minor, BWV 879

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    69. Prelude No. 11 in F Major, BWV 880

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    70. Fugue No. 11 in F Major, BWV 880

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    71. Prelude No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 881

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    72. Fugue No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 881

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    73. Prelude No. 13 in F-Sharp Major, BWV 882

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    74. Fugue No. 13 in F-Sharp Major, BWV 882

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    75. Prelude No. 14 in F-Sharp Minor, BWV 883

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    76. Fugue No. 14 in F-Sharp Minor, BWV 883

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    77. Prelude No. 15 in G Major, BWV 884

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    78. Fugue No. 15 in G Major, BWV 884

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    79. Prelude No. 16 in G Minor, BWV 885

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    80. Fugue No. 16 in G Minor, BWV 885

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    81. Prelude No. 17 in A-Flat Major, BWV 886

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    82. Fugue No. 17 in A-Flat Major, BWV 886

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    83. Prelude No. 18 in G-Sharp Minor, BWV 887

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    84. Fugue No. 18 in G-Sharp Minor, BWV 887

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    85. Prelude No. 19 in A Major, BWV 888

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    86. Fugue No. 19 in A Major, BWV 888

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    87. Prelude No. 20 in A Minor, BWV 889

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    88. Fugue No. 20 in A Minor, BWV 889

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    89. Prelude No. 21 in B-Flat Major, BWV 890

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    90. Fugue No. 21 in B-Flat Major, BWV 890

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    91. Prelude No. 22 in B-Flat Minor, BWV 891

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    92. Fugue No. 22 in B-Flat Minor, BWV 891

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    93. Prelude No. 23 in B Major, BWV 892

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    94. Fugue No. 23 in B Major, BWV 892

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    95. Prelude No. 24 in B Minor, BWV 893

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim

    96. Fugue No. 24 in B Minor, BWV 893

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Christine Schornsheim


REVIEW:

German harpsichordist and pianist Christine Schornsheim has been making CDs for many years now; I’m mostly familiar with her collaborations with non-period performers such as tenor Peter Schreier and the German oboist and conductor Burkhardt Glaetzner. In fact, the only decidedly “period” CD of hers in my library is a Harmonia Mundi recording of Mozart four-hand music made a few years ago with pianist Andreas Staier on a Stein Vis-à-vis piano/harpsichord. Based on this admittedly limited experience, I was not prepared for the excellence of this release, nor for the depth of her understanding of Bach.

Complete recordings of the Well-Tempered Clavier have been coming fast and furious of late; one need only scan the 70-plus listings of Book I on ArkivMusic to see that the music has attracted harpsichordists and pianists of every stripe and persuasion. Since joining the staff of Fanfare , I’ve personally surveyed four versions, the most exceptional of which is undoubtedly Rebecca Pechefsky’s recording of Book 1 on Quill Classics, reviewed in Fanfare 34:3. The first hint that Schornsheim’s version might be a cut above the ordinary comes in her personal observations about the project, contained in the liner notes: “ The Well-Tempered Clavier has always had a healing effect on me. Whenever I felt bad, I sat down at the nearest keyboard and played fugues.” She goes on to say that despite being an immense challenge, recording the 48 plus 48 has cleansed her soul and given her inner peace. One could interpret this as mere advertising jargon, but I don’t think so. The sincerity of these statements is borne out entirely by the integrity and honesty of the playing on these CDs.


It may surprise you to learn that I don’t automatically subscribe to the early-music dictum that the WTC can be played only on the harpsichord. Like any instrument, the harpsichord has its pluses and minuses, and in the hands of a lesser artist, the harpsichord is ruthless in revealing weaknesses in phrasing and technique. (It’s also very easy to sound dull and mechanical on the harpsichord.) The modern piano, on the other hand, with its damper pedal and increased resonance, is less restricting for many artists, allowing for a freer interpretive approach—or so they think. The best artists, of course, can turn a handicap into advantage. Schornsheim capitalizes on the strengths of the harpsichord in ways that are often hard to verbalize, such as the almost imperceptible changes in articulation—which would be lost on the more resonant modern piano—that set one voice against another in a fugue, or the minute applications of rubato that make sense of the rhetoric of a prelude. It is a style of playing grounded in intense study of and appreciation for Bach’s music, but one that never sounds labored, forced, or unnatural. There is nary a misjudged tempo or instance of flagging inspiration here; throughout Books 1 and 2 the level of accomplishment is remarkably high. In the international arena of Bach performance, I predict that this release will enjoy immediate and widespread favor.


Another reason for the serious record collector to consider the acquisition of this set is the choice of instrument. It is the 1624 two-manual Ruckers (enlarged in France in the 18th century) housed in the Musée Unterlinden, Colmar. The instrument has been the subject of numerous recordings, most recently a Centaur CD of Couperin played by Lisa Goode Crawford ( Fanfare 35:4). It is simply one of the most magnificent-sounding French harpsichords in captivity, and it has never been recorded more intelligently and realistically than it is here. Highest recommendation.

FANFARE: Christopher Brodersen