The Greatest Recordings EVER! Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin

[@andre_p]

Violinist Ida Handel often performed the Chaconne in her recitals (I heard her do it twice here in Montreal). Handel was kind of a high priestess of her instrument when performing Bach. She approached it with a mix of awe, dedication and intensity that made the experience quite unforgettable. Her very slow tempi (18 mins) also meant the dance element was not at the forefront of her preoccupations. It was a ‘vertical’ musical conception rather than an ‘horizontal’ one. It’s amazing that a work can be performed successfully in such strongly different conceptions.

[@lesonyrra]

I'll have to seek this one out. Szeryng has been my go-to for ... well, forever, but I do have some Grumiaux in my collection and he is, of course, wonderful.

[@abesmissioncontrol2013]

Szeryng for me as well. Grumiaux is great but imo not recorded as well, his tone isn't as warm as it usually is. Maybe a newer remaster fixes that idk, my version of the Grumiaux is a Philips Duo set from the '90s.

[@Stanislaw-b1h]

Szeryng has published an edition of the score with his bowings and fingerings. His fingerings were sometimes "awkward", but after further study I found them to be so in service of the music rather than the other way 'round. The bowings and fingerings evidence his careful study of the music. When I compared Grumiaux's performance against Szeryng's (not denying Grumiaux's greatness), I find that Grumiaux sometimes took the "easier" approach rather than the more rigorous.

[@michaelboyd4233]

Agree about Szeryng. His first recording versus the later. For me at least. The Cmajor fugue is..... words fail

[@tarakb7606]

A truly superlative recording I never tire of listening to.

[@timbaurle852]

The Milstein is my go to but my favorite interpretations are Paul Galbraith’s transcriptions for his 8-string Brahms guitar. His performances on his unique instrument have such breadth and dimension.

[@antonioantonio-no2uc]

Yes, Milstein in DG is fantastic

[@johnnymurgatroyd7393]

I always admired the Grumiaux set, he expresses the eerie beauty of those fugues so well.

[@Jack-dt9nu]

This recording got me through 2020

[@fmrtao56]

Dave, for once I agree with you 100%! I have felt for decades like the lone voice in the wilderness singing the praises of Grumiaux, not just in Bach but in everything he did. But especially in the Bach sonatas and partitas. Grumiaux, almost if not actually alone amongst the best known violinists, sounds to me as though he puts the music above everything, in particular his own ego and his own technique. That is what I love about him the most. That and his gorgeous tone and technique. It’s always with Grumiaox about the music, first and last. Even when he played “encore” pieces. There is never any affectation. Ever. If you listen to the his recording of the (undeservedly) much less well known Telemann Fantasias for solo violin you hear the same impressive style and technique from Grumiaux. And Grumiaux’s recordings of the Bach accompanied violin sonatas are (IMHO) the best too. I believe he recorded them twice. Grumiaux’s Complete Philips Recordings box is marvellous. Maybe you might review it if you have not already. When I saw the title to this video I was convinced you would go with Milstein. Thanks for not following the herd and for going with Grumiaux! And of course as you say, no one can talk about THE best recording in works of this statuture, or any music really, but thank you for giving Grumiaux the recognition he so well deserves, in my opinion. I can see you have already got your punters thinking about reassessing Grumiaux, and not just in these works perhaps.

[@fmrtao56]

And let’s not forget, for what it is worth, that it is Grumiaux’s Bach partita (and Karl Richter’s Brandenburg too) that is hurtling through interstellar space onboard Voyager 1. If other sentient beings eventually hear the “Golden Record”, they might also be encouraged by your review. 😀

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I didn't realize Grumiaux needed any boosting from me. We had a huge discussion about the big Grumiaux box here.

[@fmrtao56]

Grumiaux rarely feautures, or rarely features high, in the “top violinists” lists. Which always amazes me. I was not aware you did a piece on the Grumiaux box. I will look for it.

[@graceonaga3094]

Could not agree with you and Dave more! Thank you very much!

[@JohnOBurke]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Agreed. These recordings have always been revered by classical musicians.

[@issadad]

Beautifully explained. Thanks, Dave.

[@dennis_gentile]

Also love his Bach violin sonatas bwv 1014-1023.

[@jamesgoodzeit214]

yes, that set is amazing!

[@sspe]

I never get tired of Grumiaux. I respect Milstein but come back to Grumiaux.

[@georgejohnson1498]

I am so glad you chose this recording. I have it, and no other except for isolated records from Adolf Busch, who was not as technically adept. But he did have a huge sense of musical momentum, and I would not be without the Chaconne from Busch. I think that if you have Grumiaux and Busch in the Chaconne, you may well usefully explore lots of other recordings, but you have the bases covered to the manor born. Best wishes from George in UK

[@neilford99]

This set was my teacher's favourite.

[@noliverslol387]

Amazing, found the philips hifi stereo vinyl for 25 cents :)

[@waynesmith3767]

I knew it had to be Milstein or Grumiaux. Much as I love these works I love the Cello Suites even more and think Bach was even greater in creating the effect of counterpoint for a solo instrument with them.- but I just like the cello better anyway.

[@rg3388]

Yes, great art is interpretably inexhaustible.

[@NN-df7hl]

I have that one. Thank you for confirming my good taste. ;)

[@happywolfie1980]

I saw the title and first thought was 'Arthur Grumiaux' and I was right! 😂 It was pure dumb luck that I encountered this music with his recording (because those Philips Duo sets are a bargain so my CD collection started with many of them), and it took quite a while for me to enjoy some other interpretations.

[@renatonavajas6941]

Thanks for your insightful comments! Now I know the main difference between the partitas and the sonatas. And I'll listen them again with a different perspective...

[@andre_p]

James Ehnes is the closest modern reincarnation of Grumiaux’ approach (sonority, phrasing, musicality). He recorded them twice.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

So far...

[@UlfilasNZ]

For me having this alongside Kuijken on DHM covers the bases pretty well!

[@ctrlzyx2]

Grumiaux is one of my faves in this. The philips duo (the one i own) currently goes for about $10 incl. shipping on ebay. A no-brainer. I doubt any reissues improved the sound, which is a good recording from the 70's. My sacd fave is Julia fischer. A good performance and surprisingly effective multi-channel recording.

[@jonathanhenderson9422]

Despite being extremely ambivalent about JS Bach in general, these works (along with the Cello Suites) are among my absolute favorite pieces in all of classical music. The instruments' limitations forced Bach to be more imaginative in his use of counterpoint and rely more on expressivity than overt polyphony. By this point I've heard dozens of performances and most of the great violinists have something valuable to offer in these multifaceted works. If forced to pick one I don't think I could do better than Grumiaux's, which is so warm, humane, and lyrical with such a beautiful tone while losing none of the intellectual rigor nor the dance-like sprightliness. Of recent performances I've been especially taken with Isabelle Faust's and Christian Tetzlaff's recordings. So many excellent ones, though.

[@SarahLeizer-fc1jq]

One question about legato here. I've been listening to these wonderful recordings by Grumiaux on KZbin and reading the sheet music displayed on the post at the same time. In the score, there are constant legato notations. I may be mistaken, but I had the idea that Bach and baroque composer in general did not use to write them. Who wrote the notations then? Bach himself? An inspired editor? The fact is that Grumiaux follows those indications very faithfully.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

It depends on the edition.

[@loiccery1419]

Oh yes, you're right... Yes, you are. For Sonatas and Partitas, I personally put Grumiaux and Milstein right at the top of the pantheon. A quick question: what do you think of the “Milestones of a legend” collection (I have, among others, the Grumiaux box set). I know that these are reissues of shared catalogs. But in your eyes, what's it really worth?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

That's really up to you. I don't think that question has an answer.

[@philippecassagne3192]

Arthur Grumiaux seems to me more "out of reach" in Mozart (violin concertos, string trio ...) than in Bach, where Milstein is excellent too.

[@douglastaylor999]

So I have listened to a couple of your videos - Why don't you actually play some of the music to illustrate your strong views?! That would be very helpful. Thank you

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I do when I can. Check out the Haydn symphony crusade. I need to get permission to avoid copyright claims against me. The vast majority of labels refuse to give it. There's nothing I can do about it.

[@douglastaylor999]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Oi.... Listening would be very helpful.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

You can find just about everything elsewhere on KZbin with very little difficulty. Yes, it's a bit more work, but no big deal.