Keith Jarrett - J.S. Bach - Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Buch I (1988) [2CD]
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I am a professional organist and am well versed in Baroque performance practices and stylistic specificities. As such, I have performed tons of Bach.

Jarrett's version is the best I have ever heard. I have even stolen some aspects of his interpretation and added them to my own. Some have commented that it was muddy, uninspired, contains errors. I disagree on all counts. I am most puzzled by the claim that there are errors. I play much of the WTC myself and I heard no errors.

I am most annoyed by people who over-interpret Bach as if each performer has a right to own him. Why doesn't this attitude exist for other composers as well? I don't understand. Jarrett sticks to what is on the page (with only the most minor contextually justifiable exceptions, unlike most other performers) and for this alone Jarrett deserves praise. This tells us Bach lovers that Jarrett trusts Bach's notes to do the work. I get the feeling from a lot of other performers that they do not trust Bach since they feel the need to do so much interpretataion.

I found Jarrett's version to be clear and penetrating. I enjoyed his tempos all told more than any other version I can think of. And there was just enough romantic emotionalism to remain within the scale of Baroque practice. Bach, throughout his music, displayed the capacity to render a wide variety of emotion. This fact I don't need to belabor to his fans. And Jarret does a fine job varying the styles of each prelude and fugue to reveal this often ignored side of Bach.

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Tracklist:
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CD1
01. Prelude No.1 in C major, BWV846
02. Fugue No.1 in C major, BWV846
03. Prelude No.2 in C minor, BWV847
04. Fugue No.2 in C minor, BWV847
05. Prelude No.3 in C sharp major, BWV848
06. Fugue No.3 in C sharp major, BWV848
07. Prelude No.4 in C sharp minor, BWV849
08. Fugue No.4 in C sharp minor, BWV849
09. Prelude No.5 in D major, BWV850
10. Fugue No.5 in D major, BWV850
11. Prelude No.6 in D minor, BWV851
12. Fugue No.6 in D minor, BWV851
13. Prelude No.7 in E flat major, BWV852
14. Fugue No.7 in E flat major, BWV852
15. Prelude No.8 in E flat minor/D sharp minor
16. Fugue No.8 in E flat minor/D sharp minor
17. Prelude No.9 in E major, BWV854
18. Fugue No.9 in E major, BWV854
19. Prelude No.10 in E minor, BWV855
20. Fugue No.10 in E minor, BWV855
21. Prelude No.11 in F major, BWV856
22. Fugue No.11 in F major, BWV856
23. Prelude No.12 in F minor, BWV857
24. Fugue No.12 in F minor, BWV857

CD2
01. Prelude No.13 in F sharp major, BWV858
02. Fugue No.13 in F sharp major, BWV858
03. Prelude No.14 in F sharp minor, BWV859
04. Fugue No.14 in F sharp minor, BWV859
05. Prelude No.15 in G major, BWV860
06. Fugue No.15 in G major, BWV860
07. Prelude No.16 in G minor, BWV861
08. Fugue No.16 in G minor, BWV861
09. Prelude No.17 in A flat major, BWV862
10. Fugue No.17 in A flat major, BWV862
11. Prelude No.18 in G sharp minor, BWV863
12. Fugue No.18 in G sharp minor, BWV863
13. Prelude No.19 in A major, BWV864
14. Fugue No.19 in A major, BWV864
15. Prelude No.20 in A minor, BWV865
16. Fugue No.20 in A minor, BWV865
17. Prelude No.21 in B flat major, BWV866
18. Fugue No.21 in B flat major, BWV866
19. Prelude No.22 in B flat minor, BWV867
20. Fugue No.22 in B flat minor, BWV867
21. Prelude No.23 in B major, BWV868
22. Fugue No.23 in B major, BWV868
23. Prelude No.24 in B minor, BWV869
24. Fugue No.24 in B minor, BWV869

*1988 ECM Records | ECM New Series 1362~63


Personnel: Keith Jarrett - piano