MusicWeb International One of the most grown-up review sites around 2024
60,000 reviews
... and still writing ...

Search MusicWeb Here Acte Prealable Polish CDs
 

Presto Music CD retailer
 
Founder: Len Mullenger                                    Editor in Chief:John Quinn             

Some items
to consider

new MWI
Current reviews

old MWI
pre-2023 reviews

paid for
advertisements

Acte Prealable Polish recordings

Forgotten Recordings
Forgotten Recordings
All Forgotten Records Reviews

TROUBADISC
Troubadisc Weinberg- TROCD01450

All Troubadisc reviews


FOGHORN Classics

Alexandra-Quartet
Brahms String Quartets

All Foghorn Reviews


All HDTT reviews


Songs to Harp from
the Old and New World


all Nimbus reviews



all tudor reviews


Follow us on Twitter


Editorial Board
MusicWeb International
Founding Editor
   
Rob Barnett
Editor in Chief
John Quinn
Contributing Editor
Ralph Moore
Webmaster
   David Barker
Postmaster
Jonathan Woolf
MusicWeb Founder
   Len Mullenger


Support us financially by purchasing this from

Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Partita No. 1 in B flat major, BWV 825 [25:56]
Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826 [23:28]
Partita No. 3 in A minor, BWV 827 [23:15]
Partita No. 4 in D major, BWV 828 [33:44]
Partita No. 5 in G major, BWV 829 [21:27]
Partita No. 6 in E minor, BWV 830 [30:25]
Colin Tilney (harpsichord)
rec. 2019, Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, University of Victoria, BC, Canada
MUSIC & ARTS CD-1301 [3 CDs: 157:19]

The English harpsichordist, fortepianist and teacher Colin Tilney has featured prominently in the Music and Arts catalogue over the years. His sensitive and musically-informed playing has won him many devotees, including myself. Last year he took the six Partitas of Johann Sebastian Bach into the studios. I was greatly impressed with his recording for Hyperion of the two books of the composer’s Well Tempered Clavier, recorded back in the late 1980s, so I approached his latest efforts with a great sense of anticipation.

You may be wondering why this cycle fans out over three CDs. The answer is simple. Tilney’s tempi are broader than what you may be used to. Whilst the Gigues may not be the beneficiaries of this approach, lacking their youthful exuberance and sparkle, the slow movements e.g. the Sarabandes profit tremendously. The Corrente from the Partita No. 1 still retains an elegant spring in its step, and one is drawn along by the forward momentum of the final Capriccio of No. 2. The Sarabandes form the emotional core of each work, and each is eloquently contoured and rendered with warmth and compelling emotional insight. Where I would like a little extra pace is in the Praeludium of the Partita No. 1. Tilney’s hesitant step has the effect of impeding the flow of the music.

Tilney has opted for a Colin Booth harpsichord, constructed in 1984, after an instrument by Christian Zell, Hamburg 1728 (A-415 Hz). Booth is a harpsichord maker and performing musician who has made several fine recordings on his own label, Soundboard. This harpsichord is well suited to the music. It’s a bright-sounding instrument, with a radiant bloom and depth of tone, and perfectly spotlighted in the balance. Delineation of lines and ornamental detail is vividly captured. Tilney doesn’t fall into the trap of going overboard on registration changes, so that when they happen they have a striking effect. A good example is in the Air from the Partita No. 6., where its conversational quality is effected by the alternation of a plucked guitar sound with a bright, vibrant sonority.

At the age of 87, Tilney has lost none of his unique charisma. The Partitas are beautifully recorded, and the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, where he’s made many of his Canadian recordings for the label, confers an attractive, intimate and warm ambience, ideal for this music. The 39 page booklet in English is worthy of special mention. Both fascinating and absorbing, Tilney’s own scholarly and erudite notes are an edifying accompaniment to this appealing release of profound and thoughtful musicianship.

Stephen Greenbank
 



Advertising on
Musicweb


Donate and keep us afloat

 

New Releases

Naxos Classical
All Naxos reviews

Hyperion recordings
All Hyperion reviews

Foghorn recordings
All Foghorn reviews

Troubadisc recordings
All Troubadisc reviews



all Bridge reviews


all cpo reviews

Divine Art recordings
Click to see New Releases
Get 10% off using code musicweb10
All Divine Art reviews


All Eloquence reviews

Lyrita recordings
All Lyrita Reviews

 

Wyastone New Releases
Obtain 10% discount

Subscribe to our free weekly review listing