See If You Can Play These Friedemann

The complete 48 preludes and fugues of the Well Tempered Clavier by Bach, performed over three cds in this box set by Vladimir Ashkenazy. At nearly four hours of music, this isn't really something to be devoured at one setting. Indeed it may be argued that the settings, written as teaching aids for for Bach's first born son Friedemann, weren't designed to be listened to as performance pieces at all. They progress through all the major and minor keys of the keyboard and are played here by Ashkenazy on a modern concert grand. As ever, arguments range as to whether they might be better heard on a clavichord, harpsichord or fortepiano but there is plenty of interest in having a conventional modern piano put through its' paces. And although ostensibly "only" teaching aids, there is much magical writing among the ingenious variations and it is also possible that Bach expanded the latter part of the book ( that known as book two ) with a wider auduence than Friedemann in mind. Having said that, as a modern day listening experience, it is more sober and heavy going than such as the Goldbergs or concertos. Ashkenazy's performance is on the sober side too but considered and contemplative and not without its' merits.