Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Performers: Joseph Payne, harpsichord
Record Label: BIS-CD
Number: 589/590
Recorded: March 1992
Length: 133.35 minutes
Johann Sebastian Bach, the seminal composer whose unfettered creativity and unorthodox ideas laid the groundwork for the widest spectrum of music demands a performer who not only comprehends his technical complexities but also conveys the emotional vastness of his encore. In his recording of Bach’s French Suites, Fifteen Inventions, and Six Little Preludes, Joseph Payne, working the strings of the harpsichord over 133.35 minutes, manifests himself as such a comprehender and conveyor.
Payne presents the “French Suites,” encompassed in Bach’s “Clavier-Übung”, or “keyboard exercise”, as an exquisite amalgamation of the dance suite tradition and the gallant style, further infusing them with lively Italian elements. The contrapuntal nuances are underpinned with a soulful understanding of rhythm and phrasing in Payne’s performance, reclaiming the harpsichord’s responsibility for carrying both architecture and emotion.
By taking on the Fifteen Inventions, Payne confronts one of Bach’s most instructionally significant bodies of work. Utilising the harpsichord’s unique sonic timbre, he encapsulates the intimate dialogue that Bach constructs between two voices. Every note seems not merely played, but spoken, making Bach’s conversational harmony all the more pronounced and persuasive.
Perhaps most notable is Payne’s handling of the Six Little Preludes, which though compact in nature, are enigmatically dense with phrase. Here, Payne’s light yet targeted touch illuminates the polyphonic intentions of Bach, uncovering the genius of their economical design.
BIS-CD recording delivers a recording that is crisp and resonant. The choice of a harpsichord over a piano for this recital ensures an authentic experience, as Payne’s deft manipulations elicit a wealth of color and textural diversity. While he remains faithful to the compositions’ rhythmic and melodic sanctity, his interpretation is refreshingly individualistic.
In conclusion, this CD is a stimulating celebration of Bach’s inventiveness, brought to life by Payne’s sensitive and informed playing. An erudite exploration into the labyrinthian mind of Bach- this double-disc anthology is a commendable endorsement for the enduring legacy of the great German composer.
