This is just what I heard when this instrument was in Mr. Challis' studio in New York before Mr. Biggs took it to Harvard. I played this grand instrument, John always said it was his masterpiece. It was a humbling experience to play and hear this magnificent instrument. As John said: "It will rattle the windows!"....and it will. It is sad that Harvard has incarcerated this wonderful sound to a museum. Shame on them!
If it is in a museum without being played then it is a disgrace. The Raymond Russell keyboard museum instruments in Edinburgh are all kept in impeccable playing condition and are used regularly for concerts. If you play they even let you if you contact their player in residence the lovely John Kitchen.
Thanks from "Team Virgil Fox" for this posting. This was never put on CD by Columbia. I found a pristine copy of this disc at Wuxtry Records in Decatur, Georgia last year for three bucks - made my day!
Absolutely sublime. I agree with the other poster regarding the clarity with this instrument. As a stretch, perhaps there is a guitar version of this too?
I had fended off the urge for classical music until I was about 15 or so, and then something "clicked". That's when I got the lp, "Switch on Bach". It looked and sounded "hip"! I was hooked and everything changed for me after that. (35 years ago!) Try listening to Schubert's Eighth symphony, the "Unfinished" (VERY famous work). And the Ninth Symphony, "the Great". He composed hundreds of songs, and did a fair amount of piano and chamber works. All within his lifespan of 31 years!
On another cut from this record I mentioned W Landowska. Her Pleyel had (has ?) some of the same ringing, even gong-like tone that this instrument demonstrates; add that to A Peckham's comment below about its ability to "rattle the windows"... This performance of BWV 541 was I believe my introduction to the piece; it became one of my favorites. I haven't heard this track in more than fifty years; it thrills anew !
Schubert it indispensable! Me thinks that you might be fairly new to the world of classical music. If so, welcome! I think you'll find a great many resources just on YT that are excellent in showing you the world of composers and compositions in history. My favorite are the Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts. There are many installments available on YT and you may want to check out a few. They are quite entertaining, a bit campy by today's standards, but quite informative!
Schubert is an early Romantic, not unlike Beethoven. During his brief life, Schubert had always felt intimidated by Beethoven. So, you might hear some similarities in their sonorties, though Schubert was always more tuneful, and one notices that epsecially in his songs but it carries over to just about everything else he wrote. Generally very lyrical. For other Schubert "hits', try the his "Great" 9th symphony. And the 'Wanderer' Fantasie (piano), and 'Death and the Maiden' string quartet.
It is a good version isn't it? Bach might have actually composed the piece on such an instrument.... I love the"proper" version on pipe organ, too. This one grows on you...
Well he was organist in a church, so it can be imagined he was well able to compose a piece for organ... I also prefer the harpsichord version above any organ, all the details get lost in that big wall of fluty sounds :P
![Bach Invention 13 in A minor BWV 784 [Harpsichord] Leonart](/img/n.gif)
I still have many of Bigg's vinyl records, this being one of them. Love this !
E. Power Biggs! He rocks. The performance is amazing. I can see Bach composing on such an instrument. He did have one at home.
This is just what I heard when this instrument was in Mr. Challis' studio in New York before Mr. Biggs took it to Harvard. I played this grand instrument, John always said it was his masterpiece. It was a humbling experience to play and hear this magnificent instrument. As John said: "It will rattle the windows!"....and it will. It is sad that Harvard has incarcerated this wonderful sound to a museum. Shame on them!
If it is in a museum without being played then it is a disgrace. The Raymond Russell keyboard museum instruments in Edinburgh are all kept in impeccable playing condition and are used regularly for concerts. If you play they even let you if you contact their player in residence the lovely John Kitchen.
Thanks from "Team Virgil Fox" for this posting. This was never put on CD by Columbia. I found a pristine copy of this disc at Wuxtry Records in Decatur, Georgia last year for three bucks - made my day!
I've always loved this album. Thank you for posting it.
This amazing instrument is now silent in a museum: that is a travesty and Biggs would be furious.
The composition is superb! Letting go all the restraints
Wish we could see E. Power Biggs play this.
Beautiful! Thanks so much.
God bless you, Biggsy.
Absolutely sublime. I agree with the other poster regarding the clarity with this instrument. As a stretch, perhaps there is a guitar version of this too?
Bach rocks and E Power Biggs is big - and has the power
@MsMatty709 As grand as the original organ version is there even a more sense of excitement in this pedal harpsichord version. Glad you liked it!
I had fended off the urge for classical music until I was about 15 or so, and then something "clicked". That's when I got the lp, "Switch on Bach". It looked and sounded "hip"! I was hooked and everything changed for me after that. (35 years ago!)
Try listening to Schubert's Eighth symphony, the "Unfinished" (VERY famous work). And the Ninth Symphony, "the Great". He composed hundreds of songs, and did a fair amount of piano and chamber works. All within his lifespan of 31 years!
On another cut from this record I mentioned W Landowska. Her Pleyel had (has ?) some of the same ringing, even gong-like tone that this instrument demonstrates; add that to A Peckham's comment below about its ability to "rattle the windows"...
This performance of BWV 541 was I believe my introduction to the piece; it became one of my favorites. I haven't heard this track in more than fifty years; it thrills anew !
I love this.
Schubert it indispensable! Me thinks that you might be fairly new to the world of classical music. If so, welcome! I think you'll find a great many resources just on YT that are excellent in showing you the world of composers and compositions in history. My favorite are the Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts. There are many installments available on YT and you may want to check out a few. They are quite entertaining, a bit campy by today's standards, but quite informative!
Fugue begins at 2:55
My all-time fave!
Schubert is an early Romantic, not unlike Beethoven. During his brief life, Schubert had always felt intimidated by Beethoven. So, you might hear some similarities in their sonorties, though Schubert was always more tuneful, and one notices that epsecially in his songs but it carries over to just about everything else he wrote. Generally very lyrical. For other Schubert "hits', try the his "Great" 9th symphony. And the 'Wanderer' Fantasie (piano), and 'Death and the Maiden' string quartet.
It is a good version isn't it? Bach might have actually composed the piece on such an instrument.... I love the"proper" version on pipe organ, too. This one grows on you...
The harpsichord actually sings ! When one comes to think of it !
A revelation
if I were 40 years younger I would try hard to obtain one of these....but who has the kind of moola to buy one?Not I, not then or now.
The harpsichord sings along ; just sings along !
And dances!
Well he was organist in a church, so it can be imagined he was well able to compose a piece for organ... I also prefer the harpsichord version above any organ, all the details get lost in that big wall of fluty sounds :P
venatorivs. As one whowned a harpsichord, I like these *organworks* much better on organ.
Ah, then you should also listen to some Mozart and Schubert. I don't care much for Beethoven myself but Chopin is another winner.
More interesting than a synthesiser
足鍵盤付きチェンバロの演奏のはしりやが、モダンはあかん。4フィートがきらきらする。演奏も月並み。