Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. 1. Adagio
2. 2. Fuga (Allegro)
3. 3. Siciliana
4. 4. Presto
5. 1. Allemanda
6. 2. Double
7. 3. Corrente
8. 4. Double (Presto)
9. 5. Sarabande
10. 6. Double
11. 7. Tempo di Borea
12. 8. Double
13. 1. Grave
14. 2. Fuga
15. 3. Andante
16. 4. Allegro

Disc 2:

1. 1. Allemande
2. 2. Corrente
3. 3. Sarabande
4. 4. Giga
5. 5. Ciaccona
6. 1. Adagio
7. 2. Fuga
8. 3. Largo
9. 4. Allegro assai
10. 1. Preludio
11. 2. Loure
12. 3. Gavotte en Rondeau
13. 4. Menuet I-II
14. 5. Bourrée
15. 6. Gigue

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11389 in Music
• Released on: 1993-11-09
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: .23 pounds
• Running time: 112 minutes

Customer Reviews

Two hours of Bach's solo violin music

Bach's works for solo violin, the three sonatas of four movements each and three partitas of six dance-style movements each, were completed in 1720 during Bach's employment at Kothen at a time when his writing was at its most prolific - the Brandenburg concertos, double violin concertos and cello suites all originated from this period.

Bach himself transcribed parts of the work for other instruments (including organ, lute, and harpsichord) and is included in two cantatas (BWV 29 and BWV 120a). The works in their entirety have also been transcribed and rearranged by many artists and composers for guitar, viola, cello and piano.

Arthur Grumiaux, born in Belgium 1921 (died 1986) was a much acclaimed violinist, more highly regarded by his fellow musicians perhaps than by worldwide audiences. Recognition of his musicianship came in 1973 when he was made a baron by King Baudouin for his services to music.

This 1960/1961 recording is on the Phillips Classics DUO label which aims to provide 2 CDs for the price of one. The recordings are good, and the performances by Grumiaux demonstrate his distinctive style. The 16 page sleeve notes provide recording dates, track times and detailed background information about the works, but surprisingly no mention of Grumiaux himself.

There are many other recordings of these lovely solo works but this one is a good starting point in terms of value for money.

Haunting...
These works are surely up there with the St Matthew Passion and B Minor Mass as among the greatest and most influential achievements of JS Bach - the craftsmanship, virtuosity and sheer intensity of the sonatas and partitas remains, as far as I can see, unmatched to the present day. Who else but Bach could have conceived of writing fugues for an instrument not used to playing more than one note at once; and who else could pull it off so resoundingly well?! Not to mention the monumental Chaconne, a movement so vast, profound and virtuosic it leaves you gasping for breath.....

The almost legendary status of this recording (I see it has recently been re-released on a special Philips series commemorating 50 great recordings) needs very little comment. The most astounding thing for me was the way Grumiaux really manages to make his violin sound like at least two or three - the melodic line continues clearly and perfectly unbroken through all the double stopping and chords around it. And the music's intensity is brought out frightening effectively.

Yet another musical destruction of the opinion that Bach's music is excessively planned out and is nothing more than unemotional theory - anyone finding this at all dry and lacking in feeling needs their head examined!

Frighteningly excitingly powerfully intense
Grumiaux is to Bach as Ashkenazy is to Rachmaninov. This has to be among the most intense and exciting violin playing in existence. Yes, Bach himself was a violinist, but it takes a player the calibre of Grumiaux to interpret it the way it ought to be performed.

When you've checked this one out, it's worth taking a listen to his rendition of the Violin Sonatas as well.