J.S. Bach: Transkriptionen Tal & Groethuysen

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750): Schafe können sicher weiden, BWV 208, No. 9 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Mary Howe):
• 1Bach: Schafe können sicher weiden, BWV 208, No. 9 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Mary Howe)05:33
• Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, BWV 1051 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Gustav Clemens Felix Krug):
• 2Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, BWV 1051 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Gustav Clemens Felix Krug): I. -05:30
• 3Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, BWV 1051 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Gustav Clemens Felix Krug): II. Adagio, ma non tanto04:04
• 4Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, BWV 1051 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Gustav Clemens Felix Krug): III. Allegro05:13
• Es ist vollbracht, BWV 159, No. 4 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Roy Douglas):
• 5Bach: Es ist vollbracht, BWV 159, No. 4 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Roy Douglas)04:23
• Sonata in D Minor, BWV 964:
• 6Bach: Sonata in D Minor, BWV 964: III. Andante (Arr. for Two Pianos by Cyril Scott)04:02
• Prelude and Fugue in E-Flat Major, BWV 552 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Christopher le Fleming):
• 7Bach: Prelude and Fugue in E-Flat Major, BWV 552 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Christopher le Fleming)14:02
• Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen, BWV 82, No. 3 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Ludwig Lebell):
• 8Bach: Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen, BWV 82, No. 3 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Ludwig Lebell)04:13
• Toccata in C Major, BWV 564:
• 9Bach: Toccata in C Major, BWV 564: II. Adagio (Arr. for Two Pianos by Alexander Kelberine)03:44
• Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Alexander Kelberine):
• 10Bach: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Alexander Kelberine)04:06
• Passacaglia in C Minor, BWV 582 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Gino Tagliapietra):
• 11Bach: Passacaglia in C Minor, BWV 582 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Gino Tagliapietra)11:50
• Jesus bleibet meine Freude, BWV 147, No. 10 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Victor Babin)
• 12Bach: Jesus bleibet meine Freude, BWV 147, No. 10 (Arr. for Two Pianos by Victor Babin)03:24
• Total Runtime01:10:04

Info for J.S. Bach: Transkriptionen

From the 19th century onwards, the works of Johann Sebastian Bach enjoyed immense popularity among the greatest pianists of the time. Whether Franz Liszt, Camille Saint-Saëns or Sergei Rachmaninov, they all arranged works by the Baroque master for solo piano. Less well known are the numerous Bach transcriptions for two pianos. The piano duo Yaara Tal & Andreas Groethuysen, who have won countless record awards, astounded audiences back in 2009 with their recording of Bach's ‘Goldberg Variations’ in Joseph Rheinberger's and Max Reger's version for two pianos.

Now the two have recorded a new album for Sony Classical with special Bach transcriptions by well-known arrangers such as Cyril Scott, but also by musicians forgotten today such as Gustav Clemens Felix Krug and Alexander Kelberine. These include versions arranged for two pianos of arias from cantatas, the important organ Passacaglia in C minor and the Sixth Brandenburg Concerto.

‘Bach's oeuvre contains a wealth of masterpieces that have mutated into veritable highlights over the centuries,’ says Yaara Tal. ‘This album aims to present a selection of these works in particularly successful transcriptions for two pianos that have been unjustly forgotten.’ The album begins with the aria ‘Schafe können sicher weiden’ from the cantata ‘Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd’ BWV 208, which was arranged by the American Mary Howe (1882-1964). The German Wagnerian Gustav Clemens Felix Krug (1844-1902) wrote the version of the famous Sixth Brandenburg Concerto. And while the Russian-American pianist Victor Babin (1908-1972) arranged one of the best-known chorales for two pianos, ‘Jesu bleibet meine Freude’, the transcription of ‘Nun komm der Heiden Heiland’ BWV 659 is by Alexander Kelberine (1903-1940). Yaara Tal is particularly fond of two melodies. They are the Andante from the Violin Sonata in A minor BWV 1003, arranged by Cyril Scott (1879-1970), and the Adagio from the Organ Toccata in C major BWV 564 in the arrangement by Alexander Kelberine. ‘I don't know any more beautiful melodies!’ says Yaara Tal.

Duo Tal & Groethuysen, piano

Yaara Tal & Andreas Groethuysen
The Israeli pianist Yaara Tal and her German partner Andreas Groethuysen are one of the world´s leading piano duos and perform regularly at such prominent venues as the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, the Philharmonies Berlin, Cologne and Munich, Teatro alla Scala Milano, Musikhalle Hamburg, Hongkong Arts Festival, Lucerne Festival, Frick Collection New York, Forbidden City Concert Hall Peking, Piano-Festival La Roque d´Anthéron, Salzburger Festspiele, Musikverein Vienna, Tonhalle Zürich - to name only a few.

Besides an unsurpassed homogenity and spontanity in their playing, the duo displays great creativity in their recital programmes which feature unjustly neglected musical treasures in addition to the standard repertoire.

The exclusive cooperation with the record company SONY CLASSICAL makes up an important part of their international success: The Duo Tal & Groethuysen has released numerous recordings of piano music for four hands (largely world première recordings e.g. of pieces by Carl Czerny, Reinhard Febel, Theodore Gouvy, Charles Koechlin, Felix Mendelssohn, Max Reger, Robert Schumann, Richard Wagner) which have brought them great acclaim from critics and the public alike.

Their CD's have won the coveted “Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik” no less than nine times, while the German Phono Academy has awarded its “Echo Klassik”-Prize to five of their recordings, including the complete recordings of Schubert´s music for four hands and the complete Mozart piano duos. Other awards from outside Germany, such as the “Cannes Classical Award“,“Editor´s Choice“ by Gramophone and the “Supersonic Award“ reflect their high international reputation.

The latest releases included in 2013 'Götterdämmerung', with two-piano transcriptions of Wagner's operas ('Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik' 2013), in 2014 the double concerto by Mozart combined with the rarely performed concerto for four-hand piano and orchestra by Carl Czerny, and Rossini's 'Petite messe solennelle' together with the choir of the Bavarian Radio under Peter Dijkstra.

Booklet for J.S. Bach: Transkriptionen