Fantasia Cromatica, sonates & transcriptions

Album review

Alpha continues to grow its list of outstanding "ut pictura musica" series with this disc of J.S. Bach's music played on a pedal harpsichord by Yves Rechsteiner. Naturally, the first question is "What is a pedal harpsichord?" In this instance, it is a harpsichord with a second instrument placed below, which has a pedal keyboard similar to that of an organ. The second instrument provides a depth of sound that allows Rechsteiner to play Bach's organ literature on the harpsichord very effectively. The excellent sound of the recording allows the listener to hear that it sounds like a theorbo is accompanying Rechsteiner in the Trio Sonata No. 4 and the Adagio from the Toccata, BWV 564. He is a performer who, although he is talented technically and does not ignore the significance of Bach's writing, slightly favors the drama of the music over its structure. The Chromatic Fantasy has an improvisatory feel, while the finale of the Toccata in D, BWV 912, is thrilling. His imagination also takes hold in his transcriptions of the Sonata for solo violin, BWV 1001, and the Chaconne from the Partita, BWV 1004. He reinforces and fills in the harmonies, with a result that sounds more as if he is simultaneously playing a solo line and a continuo part rather than one of Bach's keyboard pieces, but even so, the outcome is enjoyable. Rechsteiner explains it all -- the instrument, the music -- in the well-done liner notes. It's yet another testament to the nature of Bach's music that allows it to be transmuted and yet remain amazing.

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