The Very Best Harpsichord Recordings Ever Made

[peteAllen]

Any harpsichord fans out there willing to share what the finest recordings in their collection are? Wish I had more

 

[themadlatvian]

Wanda Landowska playing Scarlatti on 78s!

You can easily get CD transcriptions, but somehow they just aren't the same.

:^

 

[Diapason]

There's a great disc by Andreas Staier: Variaciones del Fandango Español.

 

[dangermouse]

The Zuzana Růžičková recordings on Supraphon. Any of them!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuzana_R%C5%AF%C5%BEi%C4%8Dkov%C3%A1

 

[f1eng]

my favourite Harpsicord record is "Soler, Works for Harpsicord" Rafael Puyana, Philips 432 830-2, I had taped a friends discontinued LP decades ago and was thrilled when it was released on CD.

Very exciting playing, perhaps not what you may be expecting...

I am fond of both the Roussett and Moroney Bach Italian Concerto recordings.

 

[edavey]

Apologies for not answering the question as I have no idea what are the best recordings. I'm by no means an aficionado, but two of my favourites recordings featuring the instrument are these two fusion albums:

1) Spinning Wheel: Roundtable - a folk project by Christopher Hogwood and David Munrow from 1969. Christopher Hogwood wigs out on the keyboard on their cover of Scarborough Fair.

2) L'Arpeggiata: Mediterraneo - released this year

which features extremely varied early/folk music from Greece, Spain, Turkey etc all played with real verve by Christina Pluhar's top-notch ensemble. Including some great harpsicord playing!

 

[peterh]

I am rather partial to Keith Jarrett playing the Goldberg Variations on harpsichord. I know it was not well received by the critics but I like it and it seems very well recorded.

 

[peteAllen]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone

 

[peteAllen]

Quite a bargain here (it was £4.25 incl delivery from Amazon), sounds wonderful:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000275M3

 

[Guest]

I have these on vinyl. All stunning. The Gilbert in particular is phenomenal.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Handel-Suites-Harpsichord-Kenneth-Gilbert/dp/B0000007KX/ref=sr_1_7?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1382652886&sr=1-7&keywords=kenneth+gilbert+harpsichord

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Choice-Collection-Lessons-Pinnock-harpsichord/dp/B000025W3T/ref=sr_1_8?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1382652944&sr=1-8&keywords=crd+pinnock

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bach-Wohltemperierte-Klavier-Johann-Sebastian/dp/B00004R7WZ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382653148&sr=8-1&keywords=kirkpatrick+bach (not harpsichord - clavichord but all the more intimate for that)

Also some favourite harpsichord chamber/vocal music:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Viola-Da-Gamba-Sonatas-Bach/dp/B000001TWI/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382653246&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=gamba+bach+leonhart

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Buxtehude-Sonaten-Boston-Museum-Trio/dp/B000027NZ4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1382653273&sr=8-2&keywords=buxtehude+boston

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Purcell-Sweeter-Roses-Britten-Winter/dp/B000HXDHCI/ref=sr_1_7?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1382653433&sr=1-7&keywords=purcell+partridge

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Caldara-Cantate-Sonate-Armonica-Banholzer/dp/B000BND4OK/ref=sr_1_34?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1382653385&sr=1-34&keywords=caldara

 

[tones]

The Zuzana Růžičková recordings on Supraphon. Any of them!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuzana_R%C5%AF%C5%BEi%C4%8Dkov%C3%A1

Especially this one:

Never heard a better Italian Concerto

 

[JANDL100]

Quite a bargain here, sounds wonderful:http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000275M3

Alan Cuckstone -- +1 :^ -- superb performances and recording.

Also Richard Egarr in Bach WtC http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bach-Well-tempered-Clavier-Richard-Egarr/dp/B000TT1QN2/ref=sr_1_6?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1383033994&sr=1-6&keywords=bach+richard+egarr

And that Caldara album recommended by Tom is truly awesome! :^

 

[Guest]

Nice spot on the Richard Egarr jerry, totally forgot about him and would recommend his Purcell

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Purcell-Keyboard-Suites-Grounds-Richard/dp/B001ACTN0U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1383089188&sr=8-2&keywords=richard+egarr+purcell

 

[peteAllen]

Wanda Landowska playing Scarlatti on 78s!You can easily get CD transcriptions, but somehow they just aren't the same.

:^

Just listened to the cd. As you I think you suggest, the sound (on cd) isn't great. Bit closed and flat. Really enjoyed the performance though, thanks

 

[peteAllen]

There's a great disc by Andreas Staier: Variaciones del Fandango Español.

Now have this too, excellent cd, thanks

 

[Diapason]

Now have this too, excellent cd, thanks

Delighted! :^

 

[peteAllen]

Nice spot on the Richard Egarr jerry, totally forgot about him and would recommend his Purcellhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Purcell-Keyboard-Suites-Grounds-Richard/dp/B001ACTN0U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1383089188&sr=8-2&keywords=richard+egarr+purcell

This is possibly the best harpsichord disc I've come across recently, highly recommended :^