J.S. Bach: The Complete Works for Keyboard, Vol. 1 Benjamin Alard & Gerlinde Säman

• Johann Michael Bach (1648 - 1694): Ohrdruf:
• 1 Nun komm der Heiden Heiland 01:25
• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750):
• 2 Fantasia in C Major, BWV 570 02:36
• 3 Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her in C Major, BWV 700 03:22
• Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583 - 1643):
• 4 Bergamasca, F12.46 05:26
• Johann Christoph Bach (1642 - 1703):
• 5 Prelude and Fugue in E-Flat Major 05:05
• Johann Kuhnau (1660 - 1722):
• 6 Suonata quarta: Hiskia agonizzante e risanato 07:03
• Johann Sebastian Bach:
• 7 Das alte Jahr vergangen ist, BWV 1091 02:35
• 8 Ich hab mein Sach Gott heimgestellt, BWV 1113 02:24
• Georg Böhm (1661 - 1733):
• 9 Vater unser im Himmelreich 04:54
• Johann Sebastian Bach:
• 10 Christus, der ist mein Leben, BWV 1112 01:58
• 11 Fugue on a theme by Tomaso Albinoni in C Major, BWV 946 03:08
• 12 Fugue in A Major, BWV 949 04:37
• 13 Wie nach eine Wasserquelle, BWV 1119 02:16
• 14 Ehre sei dir, Christe, der du leidest Not, BWV 1097 02:20
• 15 Gott, durch deine Güte, BWV 724: Choral 01:58
• 16 O Jesu, wie ist dein Gestalt, BWV 1094 03:00
• Johann Jakob Froberger (1616 - 1667):
• 17 Canzona 03:25
• Johann Pachelbel (1653 - 1706):
• 18 An Wasserflüssen Babylon 05:27
• Louis Marchand (1669 - 1732):
• 19 Suite in D minor (Excerpts): Prélude - Sarabande - Chaconne 10:04
• Johann Sebastian Bach:
• 20 Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 551 05:52
• Nicolas de Grigny (1672 - 1703):
• 21 Point d'orgue sur les grands jeux 03:09
• Johann Sebastian Bach (Lüneburg):
• 22 Prelude and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 549a 05:54
• 23 Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein, BWV 741 04:30
• 24 Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 1105 03:10
• 25 Herr Gott, nun schleuss den Himmel auf, BWV 1092 02:16
• 26 Werde munter, mein Gemüte, BWV 1118 02:33
• 27 Machs mit mir, Gott, nach deiner Güt, BWV 957 02:12
• 28 Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr, BWV 1115 04:52
• 29 In Honorem Johann Christoph Bachii Ohrdrufiensis in E Major, BWV 993 07:45
• 30 Sonata in A Minor, BWV 967 03:48
• 31 Fugue in A Minor, BWV 947 03:34
• 32 Prelude and Fugue in A Major, BWV 896 03:32
• 33 Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut, BWV 1114 04:34
• 34 Alle Menschen müssen sterben, BWV 1117 02:40
• 35 Partite diverse Sopra il Chorale Ach, was soll ich Sünder machenp. di J: S: Bach, BWV 770 14:33
• 36 Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, BWV 1116 02:36
• 37 Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir, BWV 1099 04:01
• 38 Choral Nun lasst uns den Leib begraben BWV 1111 02:59
• 39 Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 531 07:09
• Arnstadt (44.1kHz):
• 40 Fantasia in C Minor, BWV 1121 03:21
• 41 Capriccio B sopra la lontananza del fratello dilettissimo in B Major, BWV 992 10:15
• 42 Prelude and Partita del tuono terzo in F Major, BWV 833: Præludium - Allemande - Courante - Sarabande & double (allegro) - Aria 07:25
• 43 Suite in A Major, BWV 832: Allemande - Air pour les trompettes - Sarabande - Bourrée - Gigue 06:38
• 44 Aria variata in A Minor, BWV 989 09:55
• 45 Prelude and Fugue in G Minor, BWV 535a 06:20
• 46 Sonata in D Major, BWV 963 10:04
• 47 Fugue on a theme by Tomaso Albinoni in A Major, BWV 950 05:25
• 48 Fantasia in G Major, BWV 571 07:43
• 49 Prelude and Fugue in E Minor, BWV 533 04:37
• 50 Fantasia (and Imitatio) in B Minor, BWV 563 04:24
• 51 Fugue in B Minor, BWV 951a (on a theme by Tomaso Albinoni) 06:44
• Total Runtime 04:07:33

Info zu J.S. Bach: The Complete Works for Keyboard, Vol. 1

"Geniuses are not born but (self-)made. Bach’s youth was a vast field of observation. From the years of apprenticeship in Ohrdruf, where his precocious artistic sensibility was dazzlingly demonstrated, to his first major post as organist at Arnstadt, Bach constantly enriched his musical culture, underpinned by a strong family tradition and driven by iconic respect for the old masters, crucial affinities and unfailing curiosity. As the prelude to a complete recording of a new kind, the eloquence and vigilant intelligence of the admirable Benjamin Alard’s playing are the ideal medium to reveal the technical mastery of Bach’s early keyboard works and convey the essence of this young composer’s musical discourse at a time when he was already measuring himself against the yardstick of predecessors and contemporaries alike.

"Alard is equally accomplished on both the organ and the harpsichord and moves from one to the other with facility…Alard’s playing is a delight, clean and sensible, with striking agogic expressive power…This is a project to watch with anticipation." (Gramophone Magazine)

Benjamin Alard, organ, harpsichord
Gerlinde Säman, vocals

Benjamin Alard
Benjamin’s principal passion has always been the music of J.S. Bach and it was for his interpretation of this great composer that he was awarded first prize in the 2004 International Harpsichord Competition in Bruges.

While still quite young he began studying music in his hometown in Dieppe, France. He was soon drawn to the organ and entered the Conservatory of Rouen where he studied with Louis Thiry and François Ménissier.

He was first introduced to the harpsichord by Elizabeth Joyé, with whom he studied in Paris before going on, in 2003, to the Schola Cantorum in Basel to work with Jorg-Andreas Botticher, Jean-Claude Zehnder and Andrea Marcon.

Since 2005 he has been organist of the Bernard-Aubertin organ in the church of Saint-Louis-en-l’Ile where each season he gives concerts about the music of Bach.

Today Benjamin Alard divides his time between performing recitals and chamber music on both the harpsichord and organ. He often performs repertoire for two harpsichords, in duo with the violinist Francois Fernandez and in various formations with the brothers Barthold, Sigiswald and Wieland Kuijken. He is regularly invited to perform as soloist in music series in Europe, Japan and North America.

Since 2005 he has been a member of La Petite Bande, an ensemble founded in 1973 by Gustav Leonhardt and Sigiswald Kuijken, often, in the last few years, conducting the group from the harpsichord.

Benjamin Alard has recorded for the label Hortus and has made several recordings of works by J. S. Bach for Alpha. His recordings have consistently received high praise from the press and have been awarded multiple prizes.

He will now devote himself to the complete works for harpsichord and organ solo of Johann Sebastian Bach for harmonia mundi. The first box will be released in Spring 2018.

Booklet für J.S. Bach: The Complete Works for Keyboard, Vol. 1