Grumiaux: Bach Solo Violin Sonatas & Partitas - Philips AYC 835 198 (3 LP box)

$

135

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This superb 3 LP box set – a beautiful collector’s copy – from Philips (AYC 835 198, Dutch pressing, mixed label set* – one LP with red/silver labels / two with red/white labels, stereo, booklet included) features Arthur Grumiaux’s resplendent accounts of Bach’s Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin BWV 1001-1006.

*This was particular copy was originally issued with one LP bearing the red/silver label and the other two the red/white label. While “mixed label” sets were never the norm, of course, they are not so uncommon and this copy was not assembled from two different boxes – it was issued and sold this way, at least this particular copy. In addition, the spotting visible on the booklet is also by design, reproducing the antiquity of the score.

The recording details are as follows (all performances taped in the Bachzaal, Amsterdam):

Sonata No. 1 for Violin Solo in G minor ?WV 1001
1. Adagio 3.42
2. Fuga 5.12
3. Siciliana 2.20
4. Presto 2.36
(rec. in November 1960)

 
Sonata No. 2 for Violin Solo in A minor ?WV 1003
1. Grave 3.42
2. Fuga 7.42
3. Andante 3.27
4. Allegro 3.55
(rec. in March 1961)

Sonata No. 3 for Violin Solo in C Major BWV 1005
1. Adagio 4.07
2. Fuga 10.44
3. Largo 2.58
4. Allegro 2.41
(rec. in July 1961)

Partita No. 1 for Violin Solo in B minor ?WV 1002
1. Allemande 4.25
2. Double 1.57
3. Courant? 2.28
4. Double 2.31
5. Sarabande 2.03
6. Double 1.26
7. Tempo di bourree 2.28
8. Double 2.27
(rec. in July 1961)

Partita No. 2 for Violin Solo in D minor ?WV 1004
9. Allemande 3.06
10. Couranta 1.59
11. Sarabande 3.07
12. Gigue 3.06
13. Chaconne 13.23
(rec. in March 1961)

Partita No. 3 for Violin Solo in E major ?WV 1006
1. Preludio 3.46
2. Loure 2.46
3. Gavotte en Rondeau 2.55
4. Menuetto I e II 2.33
5. Bourrèe 1.13
6. Giga 1.29

(rec. in November 1960)

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In his 10/10 review for ClassicsToday, the erudite critic Michael Jameson wrote:

“Arthur Grumiaux recorded his Philips traversal of the Bach solo Partitas and Sonatas in 1960-61. In many ways his readings never have been surpassed, although next to Grumiaux you'd rightly have to consider Nathan Milstein (DG and EMI), Oscar Shumsky (ASV), and of course Heifetz. Grumiaux brings the utmost refinement and purity of line to every bar. You can take the colossal technical skill required in brilliant sections of the E major Partita (did anyone ever play the opening Preludio with more fastidious control over dynamics and shaping within phrases?) or the labyrinthine Chaconne from the D minor work completely for granted. Grumiaux also achieves exceptional clarity of articulation in such movements as the fugue from the G minor work, and is both warmly spontaneous and natural in the slow movements (there's none of Menuhin's over-worked ornamentations, just enough to grace Bach's lines tastefully and elegantly). It's a masterful traversal of Bach's "Bible" for the violin.”

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And of a Philips CD re-issue of the performances the eminent critic Rob Cowan wrote in the October 2001 issue of The Gramophone:

“Once heard, Arthur Grumiaux's noble solo Bach recordings will take up permanent residency in your musical memory, less on account of their brilliance (though the Third Partita offers plenty of that) than their probing musicality. The two biggest challenges are the D minor Partita's Chaconne and the C major Sonata's Fugue. Both bear witness to unflinching concentration, a keen responsiveness to formal argument (especially in the Fugue) and an ability to cross the strings without excessive 'scrunching', something that not even Heifetz always avoids. Grumiaux respects the music's dance origins, even in the sonatas, where (for example) the G minor's Siciliano skips as well as sings. He is master both of legato and detached bowing (compare the Double and Courante of the First Partita) and his warm, finely controlled vibrato - which is fairly fast though never intrusive - helps define a restrained but affecting musical personality. If you need a representative sampling of Grumiaux's poise and profundity, try the largo from the Third Sonata.

“Rivals in the unaccompanied works are far too plentiful to catalogue in detail. As to the 'late and greats', Joseph Szigeti (Vanguard nla) is technically a lot less secure than Grumiaux, but his unique interpretative insights cannot be passed over lightly. Heifetz projects more overall intensity, and his account of the A minor Sonata remains unrivalled (especially the Andante) but Grumiaux is a princely player who, while rarely wearing his heart on his sleeve, invests each of these magnificent pieces with style and a wealth of feeling. Whatever versions of the Sonatas and Partitas you choose to own, this set simply has to be one of them. Fingers crossed that its release signals the systematic domestic reissue of Grumiaux's magnificent Philips legacy in toto.”

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Finally, wrote esteemed critic Rob Cowan in the November 2003 issue of The Gramophone:

"I was once told on good authority that Heifetz was a keen admirer of Grumiaux’s art, and little wonder. Like Heifetz, Grumiaux was a master of subtle shading, a disciplined stylist with a warm heart whose immaculate musicianship, silken tone and innate composure benefitted everything he played."

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Included is a fine, full-size 8-page booklet with extensive notes on the music in English and French (by Bernard Jacobson), as well as in German (by Günter Hausswald).

CONDITON – 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. There is faint shelfwear, but that is all. Otherwise, the box appears almost as new. There are no corner breaks, seamsplits, bends, owners’ markings, or other faults and the box remains perfectly solid, bright, glossy, and extremely attractive – overall, a very fine collector’s copy. 

The condition of the booklet is near-MINT. Really, there are no flaws to speak of – a superb copy.

The condition of the 3 LP is near-MINT throughout and playback is superb in all 3 – overall, these 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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