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Fazil Say|J. S. Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988

J. S. Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988

Fazil Say

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Pianist Fazil Say is hardly known for playing Bach; in fact, his last Bach release before this 2023 release came in 1998, and he can be plenty idiosyncratic when he wants to be. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, affected Say as it did everyone else, and he spent a good part of it in intensive study of Bach's Goldberg Variations, BWV 988. Those who shy away from Say's excesses can rest easy here; the intensive studies show up in what is a rather detailed reading, and even his famous Glenn Gould-like humming is minimized. Say says (now there is an awkward phrase) that he spent considerable time weighing details of articulation and dynamics in some of the variations, and while this perhaps comes at the expense of the overall line, it makes the counterpoint clear and provides some quite memorable passages. Sample the 20th variation for a purely pianistic extravaganza. The effect is somewhat similar to Gould's recordings of the work, especially the first one, but Say is less resolute in imposing his own personality. The biggest question mark here is the sound; Say served as his own producer in a Turkish arts center, with flat results and even a bit of distortion at the piano's top. Nevertheless, Say fans will be delighted, and even others will find that this stands out from the common run of Goldbergs.

© James Manheim /TiVo

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J. S. Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988

Fazil Say

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1
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria
00:04:36

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

2
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation I
00:01:55

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

3
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation II
00:01:16

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

4
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation III. Canone all'unisono
00:02:04

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

5
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation IV
00:01:05

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

6
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation V
00:01:31

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

7
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation VI. Canone alla seconda
00:01:04

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

8
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation VII. Al tempo di giga
00:02:10

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

9
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation VIII
00:01:52

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

10
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation IX. Canone alla terza
00:02:07

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

11
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation X. Fughetta
00:01:34

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

12
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XI
00:01:48

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

13
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XII. Canone alla quarta
00:02:46

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

14
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XIII
00:04:04

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

15
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XIV
00:02:08

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

16
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XV. Canone alla quinta
00:03:58

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

17
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XVI. Ouverture
00:02:53

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

18
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XVII
00:01:51

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

19
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XVIII. Canone alla sesta
00:01:18

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

20
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XIX
00:01:08

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

21
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XX
00:02:01

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

22
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XXI. Canone alla settima
00:03:01

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

23
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XXII
00:01:20

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

24
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XXIII
00:02:16

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

25
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XXIV. Canone all'ottava
00:03:15

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

26
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XXV
00:05:58

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

27
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XXVI
00:02:00

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

28
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XXVII. Canone alla nona
00:01:52

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

29
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XXVIII
00:02:17

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

30
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XXIX
00:02:01

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

31
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation XXX. Quodlibet
00:01:27

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

32
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria da capo
00:04:55

Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fazil Say, Piano, MainArtist

A Warner Classics/Erato release, © 2022 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2022 Fazil Say, under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited

Album review

Pianist Fazil Say is hardly known for playing Bach; in fact, his last Bach release before this 2023 release came in 1998, and he can be plenty idiosyncratic when he wants to be. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, affected Say as it did everyone else, and he spent a good part of it in intensive study of Bach's Goldberg Variations, BWV 988. Those who shy away from Say's excesses can rest easy here; the intensive studies show up in what is a rather detailed reading, and even his famous Glenn Gould-like humming is minimized. Say says (now there is an awkward phrase) that he spent considerable time weighing details of articulation and dynamics in some of the variations, and while this perhaps comes at the expense of the overall line, it makes the counterpoint clear and provides some quite memorable passages. Sample the 20th variation for a purely pianistic extravaganza. The effect is somewhat similar to Gould's recordings of the work, especially the first one, but Say is less resolute in imposing his own personality. The biggest question mark here is the sound; Say served as his own producer in a Turkish arts center, with flat results and even a bit of distortion at the piano's top. Nevertheless, Say fans will be delighted, and even others will find that this stands out from the common run of Goldbergs.

© James Manheim /TiVo

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