J. S. Bach Complete Edition

it is much too early for an accurate review of all the music contained here. i have heard the first 22 discs so far and am so friggin happy with this purchase. now i bought ludwig vons complete set a couple years ago. well this one has treasures to be found throughout i am sure. right off when i listened to the two discs featuring cello suites i was thrilled to hear a tune that i have liked since early youth. its title is cello suite 1 in g. later this afternoon i will start the keyboard section of discs. the period style instruments really put this music over the top. thanks amazon brilliant classics and of course j s bach for all that work.so finally a return to the bach update for me. now on disc 87 in the church songs part. the other night i heard a melody that i have heard all my life. i remember it as disc 82 track 12. that darn bach does not have any tune titles. but i also heard a bit of cor angalaise if im not mistaken. . so i am past the half way part and still groovin on the oldies. i have been reading up on the evolution of musical instruments. and because of this initial purchase of bach that old style sound has been sought out in 2 other box set purchases. hey it took me 63 years to figure out baroque rocks and it rocks big time. back after completion myself.

Just a warning, this is done on all period instruments. If you really prefer the sound of a piano to a harpsichord [I can go with either one, myself] then don't go with this box.

It comes in a very nice, fairly attractive cardboard box with a table of contents on the inside lid. The CDs are in durable paper covers with track-lists on the back along with performance information. The sections [Orchestral, Keyboard, Vocal, Cantatas, Organ, and DVD] are color coded, which is helpful.

Thankfully for me, all of my CDs are fully-functioning. I had heard some horror stories about CDs not working, but no such thing happened to me. The DVD title lists are a bit slow-moving for me on my computer, but surely that will be different in a DVD player. Also, there is one CD [no.134: Magnificat in D and Chorales] which does not load track information on my computer, but it plays just fine in iTunes [Windows Media Player would not play the last track.] Despite any flaws in a single CD, at less than a dollar per CD, you could easily use your savings [over a hundred dollars, compared to the Hanssler edition which is coming out soon] to replace it.

I highly suggest buying -this- edition to any true Bach lover, it's lovely, affordable, and, for the most part, immaculate.

I am not even halfway through this collection, and what I have heard so far would have been well worth the price of the entire set. Just stunning. Bach and Handel have been my "guys" since High School, and, indeed, the Pictures of Bach and Handel which hung in my High School music room now hang above my own piano, a gift from My Music teacher when I graduated. Dear Gene, he introduced me to to so many wonderful composers, I can never thank him enough. I highly recommend this collection.

Very carefully researched the complete editions. Finally was down to this and Haenssler. The criteria was the use of period instruments. This music just is so pure and abundant with incredible voices, sounds, counterpoint, etc, and to really hear the full magnificence it should be done this way.

Case in point: Everyone gets goosebumps with a grand chorus and orchestra singing the Hallelujah chorus and, let's face it, the same resources would give pause with "Mary had a little lamb." But if the Handel is played as it was conceived then there is the irreplaceable joy of hearing the parts and the whole and the true beauty of the genius of the writing.

Of course, it is a matter of taste ... but, for this man, this monumental collection is advisedly a great accomplishment by no accident. Thanks to all companies for their proffering of the complete Bach, but this one is a true joy to hear and have ... and the one for me.

It was about a month ago that I ordered and received the 2010 Bach Complete Edition. Overall I must say that I'm particularly pleased with this collection of works. Indeed it was to my disappointment to find a few BWV works missing, however the set is a gem by all accounts.

Hans Fagius serves as the organist for every organ work (close to 300 tracks of music). His recordings of the massive preludes and fugues are superb, as well as the chorales and such. I find his recording of the Wedge (BWV 548) to be particularly pleasing.

I am very pleased with the recording of the st. Matthew Passion, as well. I've never heard a Passion in full that used all Baroque instruments. Unique indeed. The St. John Passion is a bit different for my taste---I was used to John Elliot Gardner's conduction with the Monteverdi Choir. Jesus, in this recording, is a bit too 'bass-y' and his vibrato tends to get bothersome, but other than that...Stephen Varcoe does a brilliant job as Pilate---it was Gardner's recording that used Varcoe as Jesus. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

As far as bad news...the box wasn't as sturdy as I thought it would be. It was not falling apart---hasn't yet---and one corner is on the verge of being torn away. All the CDs were there, which was good, however with the DVD sets, the second which is the St. John Passion begins with O Mensch Bewien Dein Sunden Gross. 1725 Version...which I still don't understand.

I haven't listened to the Cantatas in full, but it's fun to hear their openings are realize that the themes are used as the openings to concertos (BWV 1052, 1053, 1048, 1059) and Masses. Speaking of Masses, BWV 232 is fair enough; the Kyrie is brilliant, and the Agnus Dei is a bit quick for my liking, but the soloist sings beautifully.

Ah, the Coffee Cantata, BWV 211, is a fun piece to listen to! A parody indeed.

So, that's all I can write for now. If anyone's interested, I've got a blog called Mitch's Pipes.

Thanks!

Listening to the complete Bach has always been a bucket list item for me and buying such a large collection, at such a price, one expects not the greatest performances. And to tell the truth, the first Brandenburg Concerto on disc one started out a little rough. But after that shaky start, pure bliss since then. Many great, if not transcendent, performances, performed on period instruments. So beware, you get harpsichord rather than piano. This becomes an asset as I re-fell in love with the sound of the harpsichord and pieces I was used to hearing Gould play.

Can't imagine a better gift for a music lover. 142 discs will keep anyone occupied for quiet awhile.

A very good collection for the price. I have gone through about 50% of the discs so far and have found that the recording quality is generally clear and crisp. I have certain preferences when it comes to the cantatas, passions, oratorios, and the Mass but to have everything in one collection is convenient beyond words. Each disc comes out to be less than $1 per which is amazing. I've spent upwards of $50 for the 2 Passions and the Mass by J.E. Gardner. The DVD bonus discs of the passions and .PDFs of the complete works round out this superb collection. Highly recommended.

Great music.

J.S.Bachの全集を購入するなどという発想は、長い間なかった。中学一年生の時にベートーヴェンの交響曲と出会って以来、どちらかというと、ごく最近まで、好きな作品のいろんな演奏を比較のために集めるのが中心だった。バッハの管弦楽の入った曲は、かなり比較が可能な種類がそろっている。先週先に購入したモーツァルト全集で意識改革をした後だったので、バッハ全集にはそれほど驚かなかったが、これが退職者でも購入可能な価格だったのだ。一万円プラス程度だとは信じがたい。142枚のCDセットなのだ。

さきほど、パソコンでFLACにすべて変換した。ディスクの入れ替えなしに、ハードディスクから直接、次々と比較試聴が可能になった。変換作業をしながら、FLACになったばかりのものをすぐに音出ししながら、変換作業を続けるので、退屈しない。CDプレーヤーは読み取り性能が低いので、音が悪いから使用しない。FLACだと信号をすべて拾う。不良のディスクは一枚もない。目で見える傷くらいで交換するような話がでてくるが、CDプレーヤーを使用しなければ、不良ディスクではない。CDは、そのうち、廃れるであろう古い技術なので、仕方ない。だから安く投げ売りしているのだろう。デジタル信号の処理に慣れた音響機器に切り替えれば問題はすぐに解決するし、相当すばらしい音質の音源だとわかる。オウヴァサンプリング回路が付いていれば、古いCD音源をSACDにして高く売っているが、そんなものは、自分で実質的には再現できる。酷い商売だ。

演奏家はベルダーはすでにかなり所有しているが、ほとんどは、今回は手持ちのCDコレクションとは重ならない、知らない演奏家の名前が多い。一部は70年代の古い録音もあるが、少数だ。特に驚いたのは、カンタータ全集だ。200曲あるのだが、今までは断片しか所有していない。古楽器でも、アルノンクール、レオンハルト、ガーディナー、コープマン、それに鈴木雅明のカンタータ全集が既に完成されているが、それらは、どれも恐ろしく長期間にわたって録音されつづけた成果なのだが、この全集にはいっているオランダ人のLeusinkと、Netherland Bach Collegiumというアマチュアの合唱団を鍛えて録音を開始し、わずか15月で完成したという恐るべきカンタータ集なのだ。素朴にすぎるところも少し聞いた範囲では散見されるが、誠実に取り組んでいるのは伝わる。先に出た5人の大家の録音はどれも高価格で多分購入できないだろうから、これは貴重だ。どんな曲かがわかるだけでも感謝すべきだろう。

オルガン曲全集もユニークだ。Stefano Moraldiというオルガニストは、あっという間に録音完成したようだ。最後の４枚はThielemann organ を使用し、4日間で4枚吹き込んだそうだ！録音の質は感心しないが、ともかく、一応、ちゃんと曲はそろっているようだ。演奏の質でなく、録音の点だけでいえば、先行する手持ちのアランやプレストンやコープマンのほうが、優れている。録音エンジニアがあまり手を煩わせていない録音だと思う。そういう録音がBrillian社の廉価版には多いから、本格装置で聞く人には、音質の満足度は低くなりがちなのは当然だろう。それでも、資料としての価値をいえば、この全集もモーツァルト同様5つ星をあげたい。聞くことはあまりないだろうが、手持ちの参照資料としての価値を評価したい。

ところで、同じ日に注文したベートーヴェン全集はいまだに到着しない。primeの会費をいつの間にか取られているのだが（primeの会費は三度も退会したのに、知らないうちに、また自動的にひかれている！！！一年で、アマゾンから4800円ひかれるのはしゃくだ！）、バッハ全集は翌日到着したのに、注文して９日になるのに、まだ到着しない。発送もしていないようだ。酷い！

fantastico! Erano anni che lo desideravo, suono perfetto e anche il prezzo non male!

Cenne i kompletne Dzieła wielkiego Mistrza. Należy je posiadać, tak jak Biblię i kanon wielkich dzieł literackich. Staranna redakcja, płyty i kartonikowe koperty posiadają szlachetną grafikę. Nagrania czyste, brzmienie plastyczne, z ciepłą barwą. W wykonawstwie kantat szczęśliwie brak nadmiaru ekspresji, najważniejszy jest Bach, drugi wykonawca. Wykonania na prawidłowym poziomie. Mogą koić duszę, kierować ku transcendencji. Odpowiadają mi barwy wokalne chóru. Wrażliwy człowiek o pogłębionym wnętrzu powinien obcować z dziełami Mistrza J. S. Bacha. Wierzę, że gdyby słuchano kantat Bacha, świat byłby lepszy.

If you love the music of J.S. Bach, as I do, this is a terrific value. Just working my way through the 142 CDs, playing the music in my car when I drive to and from work or when I'm travelling other places. Play a CD a few times, and move onto the next one. It's excellent - highly recommended!

Una excelente edición para los conocedores de Johann Sebastian Bach