Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. English Suites BWV 806-811: Prelude
2. English Suites BWV 806-811: Allemande
3. English Suites BWV 806-811: Courante I
4. English Suites BWV 806-811: Courante II Avec Deux Doubles
5. English Suites BWV 806-811: Sarabande
6. English Suites BWV 806-811: Bourree I And Bourree II
7. English Suites BWV 806-811: Gigue
8. English Suites BWV 806-811: Prelude
9. English Suites BWV 806-811: Allemande
10. English Suites BWV 806-811: Courante
11. English Suites BWV 806-811: Sarabande Et Les Agrements De La Meme Sarabande
12. English Suites BWV 806-811: Gavotte I Alternativement & Gavotte III Ou La Musette
13. English Suites BWV 806-811: Gigue
14. English Suites BWV 806-811: Prelude
15. English Suites BWV 806-811: Allemande
16. English Suites BWV 806-811: Courante
17. English Suites BWV 806-811: Sarabande
18. English Suites BWV 806-811: Passepied I En Rondeau & Passepied II
19. English Suites BWV 806-811: Gigue

Disc 2:

1. Suite No. 2 In A Minor, BWV 807: Prelude
2. Suite No. 2 In A Minor, BWV 807: Allemande
3. Suite No. 2 In A Minor, BWV 807: Courante
4. Suite No. 2 In A Minor, BWV 807: Sarabande Et Les Agrements De La Meme Sarabande
5. Suite No. 2 In A Minor, BWV 807: Bourree I Alternativement & Bourree II
6. Suite No. 2 In A Minor, BWV 807: Gigue
7. English Suites BWV 806-811: Prelude
8. English Suites BWV 806-811: Allemande
9. English Suites BWV 806-811: Courante
10. English Suites BWV 806-811: Sarabande
11. English Suites BWV 806-811: Menuet I & Menuet II
12. English Suites BWV 806-811: Gigue
13. Suite No. 6 In D Minor, BWV 811: Prelude
14. Suite No. 6 In D Minor, BWV 811: Allemande
15. Suite No. 6 In D Minor, BWV 811: Courante
16. Suite No. 6 In D Minor, BWV 811: Sarabade & Double
17. Suite No. 6 In D Minor, BWV 811: Gavotte I And Gavotte II
18. Suite No. 6 In D Minor, BWV 811: Gigue

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #41709 in Music
• Released on: 2008-03-17
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .38 pounds
• Running time: 128 minutes

Customer Reviews

Schiff pleases, but doesn't win me over.
Andras Schiff is, without a doubt, one of the greatest Bach keyboard players of our day. By "keyboard," of course, I mean pianoforte, since his snobby disdain of the venerable harpsichord is well-known, and even notorious to some listeners (including me). Nevertheless, unlike the simpler French Suites, the English Suites were written with greater complexity and they therefore call for the more versatile expressive range of the pianoforte, which is one reason why Schiff would be a preferred performer (as this mode is his element).

This being the case, I am all the more disappointed by Schiff's rather insipid rendering of many of the movements on this 2-CD recording. Surely, he could put forth a more inspiring effort into his performance. Whereas some reviewers are touched by his 'understated elegance,' I find myself reaching for the volume knob instead. The opening A-E7 arpeggios of Track 1 are eked out as if played by a mouse, not so delicate as they are muffled. Perhaps it was the acoustics, I don't know, but I would expect more drive from Schiff, especially for the recording's opening bars!

Nonetheless, his well-measured pace and vitality shines through when it is needed most emphatically, as in the final Gigue of BWV 810 and (even more graciously) in the long and complex prelude of BWV 811.

In short, this recording is a mixed bag. If one cannot tolerate Gould's humming, however, this is your best bet.

This is piano music for life.
I've had this Schiff recording for nigh on ten years and have yet to hear a better one. Bach's English Suites, particularly number three, are so ahead of their time it's scary. So personal, so emotional, and yet technically not his most sophisticated or respected works. Why?? Whatever can be said of them I think them sublime.

Schiff, perhaps better known for his flawless treatment of Schubert's revered piano sonatas (London), gives a magical rendering to some of the great composer's more thoughtful music. If you're not convinced of the romantic and ground-breaking aspect of these suites, listen to the "Courante" and "Sarabande" of suite three in G minor. These brief movements are unutterably beautiful. Although sometimes a little too technical for his own good, Schiff is more than faithful to what I think Bach had in mind.

Again, this is piano music for life.

Quality recording.
I realise that many people do not appreciate Schiff's interpretation of this piece. I have listened to many other pianists' version of the English Suites, including Gould's, Peraiha's (spelling?), etc. but I still think that Schiff's interpretation of this work is excellent enough to be worth buying. Maybe not Schiff's best, but that's still better than a lot of others'!