Szigeti: Bach Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin - Vanguard BG 627/9 (3LP box)

$

235

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This rare 3LP box set – a superb collector’s copy – from Vanguard (BG 627/9, US pressing, silver labels, mono – no stereo edition exists, original inner sleeves included) features the legendary Joseph Szigeti in Bach’s Six Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin BWV 1001-1006, “recorded under the auspices of the Bach Guild” at Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York during 1955-56, a landmark in the Bach discography.

These remarkable readings were born of a lifetime’s experience, and if Szigeti is occasionally outclassed technically, he is seldom matched in insight, music-making of a pure nobility, and quite superbly recorded, the violin not overly spotlit. 

Wrote the outstanding musician and critic Jed Distler for ClassicsToday:

“Joseph Szigeti was in his early 60s when he recorded Bach’s solo sonatas and partitas in 1955/56 for the Bach Guild. Though past his technical prime, Szigeti’s artistry and musicianship communicate on many levels. It’s not difficult to listen through moments of raspy bowing or tremulous intonation to perceive the wealth of rhythmic sophistication and inflections of tone, articulation, and phrase that give these performances awesome textural and emotional variety. He generates excitement in quicker movements like the G minor sonata’s Presto, E major partita’s Preludio, and B minor partita’s Double not through speed alone but rather through phrase groupings and strategic accents that keep his steady tempos from lapsing into predictable, metronomic patterns. Szigeti does this to even more elaborate and spiritual effect in his spacious treatment of the Allemandes, most of the huge C major sonata, and of course, in the imposing D minor Chaconne.

To give widely spaced intervals their maximum impact, Szigeti often allows them a little more time, and he uses dynamic gradations to ensure pivotal harmonic moments their fullest due, like the haunting trills in sixths that conclude the A minor sonata’s opening Grave. In the same sonata’s Andante, Szigeti sounds like two distinct violinists, one playing the eighth-note accompaniment at a steady, hushed level, the other virtually orchestrating the melody in specific points of color and accent.

“Of course there are other ways to play this music, and some listeners may prefer suaver, more elegant technicians such as Arthur Grumiaux, whose classic 1962 Philips traversals appeared concurrently with the Szigeti set’s initial LP release. With Szigeti, however, each rehearing brings something new to my appreciation of these inexhaustible works. The mono sonics haven’t aged a bit, despite several noticeable ambient changes that betray splice points. Essential listening.”

The exact discographic details are as follows:

Sonata No. 1 for Violin Solo in G minor ?WV 1001
1. Adagio 5.12
2. Fuga 5.51
3. Siciliana 3.51
4. Presto 3.44
(rec. 17/18 October 1955)

 
Sonata No. 2 for Violin Solo in A minor ?WV 1003
1. Grave 5.21
2. Fuga 8.30
3. Andante 6.19
4. Allegro 5.40
(rec. 17/18 October 1955)

Sonata No. 3 for Violin Solo in C Major BWV 1005
1. Adagio 5.57
2. Fuga 11.36
3. Largo 3.58
4. Allegro 3.43
(rec. 17/18 October 1955)

Partita No. 1 for Violin Solo in B minor ?WV 1002
1. Allemande 3.21
2.Double 3.26
3. Courant? 2.48
4. Double 3.45
5. Sarabande 4.09
6. Double 2.34
7. Tempo di bourree 4.21
8. Double 3.39
(rec. 1 July 1955)

Partita No. 2 for Violin Solo in D minor ?WV 1004
9. Allemande 3.13
10. Couranta 3.36
11. Sarabande 3.32
12. Gigue 4.21
13. Chaconne 16.07
(rec. 18/20 October 1955)

Partita No. 3 for Violin Solo in E major ?WV 1006
1. Preludio 3.57
2. Loure 4.18
3. Gavotte en Rondeau 3.23
4. Menuetto I e II 5.39
5. Bourrèe 1.41
6. Giga 1.57

(rec. 2 March 1956)

The interior panels of the box contain extensive, and very eloquent, liner notes by Sidney Finkelstein, printed in English only. The striking cover design for the box was executed by Jules Halfant.

CONDITION – PLEASE READ VERY CAREFULLY:

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the box is near-MINT. Aside from mild discoloration to the front panel, really there are no flaws to speak of. There are no seamsplits, owners markings, bends, creases, no edgewear – nothing. The gilt lettering along the spine remains very bright and legible. Overall, this rates as a truly lovely collector’s copy.

The condition of the 3 LPs is near-MINT throughout. Visually, there are light non-sounding hairline marks and faint spindle trails. In terms of sound, I will not say the surfaces are absolutely flawless (thus, I have rated is NM as opposed to MINT), but really they are quite close. If you must have an absolutely flawless copy, then do not buy this set. Overall, these LPs rate as truly fine collector's copies.

PLEASE NOTE:
This LP has been carefully cleaned using a VPI cleaning machine. All LPs are provided with a new Nagaoka (or Nagaoka-style) inner sleeve. The images I've provided are of the actual item you are potentially bidding on - these are not stock images or images I've taken from other sites. Bid with confidence!

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