Could someone please recommend a CD of Bach's keyboard music?

Answer 1

Here are some works that I can recommend:
- The Well-Tempered Clavier
- Goldberg Variations
- 6 Partitas (BWV 825-830)
- English Suites
- French Suites

I recommend that you start with The Well-Tempered Clavier, for one simple reason: this is Bach's masterpiece. It is a series of 48 preludes and fugues in all the existing keys. A fugue, to put it simply, is a piece of music built on varying a subject and superposing the variations on top of each other. It is often regarded as a very intellectual type of music, but the fugues here leave strong emotional impressions. Bach, as we all know, is the master of the fugue, and this work is typical of Bach's excellent craftsmanship. The pieces are nearly all very short, averaging just about 5 minutes, and the content and mood are extremely varied, so you can listen to it over a prolonged period of time and not feel bored. If I have to pick a personal favourite, it would be the Prelude and Fugue No. 4 in C Sharp Minor from Book I.

I have many recordings of this work. The Rosalyn Tureck performances are legendary (BBC 4109-2 or DG 463 305-2). My personal favourite is the pioneer recording by Edwin Fischer (EMI 5 67214-3). His playing is technically flawed, but he brought a certain warmth and humanity that no other performance quite conveys. All these are in mono sound though, so if sound quality is of particular concern, I suggest you go for the imaginative Angela Hewitt recording (Hyperion 67301/2), which is as good as any other modern performance.

Reserve The Art of the Fugue for later. That is very heavy listening.

If you collect Bach's keyboard music, sooner or later you will encounter the name Glenn Gould. Some people love him, and others absolutely hate him. His playing is extremely idiosynchratic, especially when it comes to tempo, he can be extremely fast or excruciatingly slow. Worth trying is his 1955 and 1981 recording of the Goldberg Variations on Sony. But I still think you should start with a more "conservative" recording, like Tureck's.

I hope I have helped. Sorry if I get too carried away, I had planned to ask if you are new at this or not, but because of time I just assume you are and give my most comprehensive answer.

Answer 2

There are lots of good recommendations so far for formal training and information on theory and composition. Until you get all that under your belt, sit with a tape recorder, away from a piano, guitar, paper, and just sing what you hear in your head. You can go back later and figure out the notes at a piano or guitar at your leisure. You could also record yourself with your guitar or keyboard, but singing what's in your head is the simplest way to get it out.