Harold Samuel (1879-1937) was the first pianist to specialize in the performance of Bach's original keyboard works in the concert hall and achieved worldwide acclaim in doing so. His pioneering HMV and Columbia recordings of the composer (all the Bach works included here, except for the first Prelude & Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier, were premiers on disc) sound as fresh and inspiring today as they did when new and reveal that great Bach playing is timeless. A unique live 5th Brandenburg Concerto from New York and a studio E major Violin Sonata with Isolde Menges round out his Bach and this landmark release also includes his remaining solo discs, notably some rare repertoire by Clementi and two of Bach's sons which was recorded for the ambitious Columbia History of Music educational project. These new 2021 transfers by Seth Winner were made using the latest technology and present these historic documents in the best possible sound, revealing more detail of Samuel's playing than has ever previously been captured.
1 Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor Bwv903-Fantasia
2 Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor Bwv903-Fugue
3 Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C Major, BWV 846-Prelude
4 Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C Major, BWV 846-Fugue
5 Prelude and Fugue No. 2 in C minor, BWV 847-Prelude
6 Prelude and Fugue No. 2 in C minor, BWV 847-Fugue
7 Prelude and Fugue No. 21 in B Flat Major, BWV 866-Prelude
8 Prelude and Fugue No. 21 in B Flat Major, BWV 866-Fugue
9 Prelude and Fugue No. 15 in G Major, BWV 884-Prelude
10 Prelude and Fugue No. 15 in G Major, BWV 884-Fugue
11 English Suite No. 2 in a Minor, BWV 807-Prelude
12 English Suite No. 2 in a Minor, BWV 807-Allemande
13 English Suite No. 2 in a Minor, BWV 807-Courante
14 English Suite No. 2 in a Minor, BWV 807-Sarabande
15 English Suite No. 2 in a Minor, BWV 807-Bourrée I and II
16 English Suite No. 2 in a Minor, BWV 807-Gigue
17 Partita No. 1 in B Flat Major, BWV 825-Praeludium
18 Partita No. 1 in B Flat Major, BWV 825-Allemande
19 Partita No. 1 in B Flat Major, BWV 825-Courante
20 Partita No. 1 in B Flat Major, BWV 825-Sarabande
21 Partita No. 1 in B Flat Major, BWV 825-Menuet I & II
22 Partita No. 1 in B Flat Major, BWV 825-Gigue
23 Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826-Sinfonia
24 Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826-Allemande
25 Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826-Courante
26 Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826-Sarabande
27 Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826-Rondeaux
28 Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826-Capriccio
- Disc 2 -
1 Fantasia in C minor, BWV 906
2 Sonata in F minor H173 Wq57/6-I. Allegro Assai
3 Sonata in B minor H245 Wq55/3-Iib. Cantabile
4 Sonata in E Major Op. 5 No. 5-III. Rondo: Prestissimo
5 Piano Sonata in E Flat Major Op. 12 No. 4-I. Allegro
6 Moment Musical in F minor D780/3 (Op. 94 No. 3)
7 Valses Sentimentales (34) for Piano, D. 779 (Op. 50)-No. 13 Valse Sentimentale in a Major
8 Originaltänze (36) for Piano (Erste Walzer), D. 365 (Op. 9)-No. 33 Waltz in F Major
9 Iphigénie en Aulide-Gavotte
10 Intermezzo in E Flat Major Op. 117 No. 1
11 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1016-Adagio
12 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1016-Allegro
13 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1016-Adagio Ma Non Tanto
14 Violin Sonata No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1016-Allegro
15 NBC Radio Broadcast-Opening Announcement
16 Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, BWV 1050-Allegro
17 Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, BWV 1050-Affettuoso
18 Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, BWV 1050-Allegro
19 NBC Radio Broadcast-Closing Announcement
20 Partita No. 1 in B Flat Major BWV 825-Praeludium
21 Partita No. 1 in B Flat Major BWV 825-Allemande
22 Partita No. 1 in B Flat Major BWV 825-Menuet I & II
23 Partita No. 1 in B Flat Major BWV 825-Gigue
Harold Samuel (1879-1937) was the first pianist to specialize in the performance of Bach's original keyboard works in the concert hall and achieved worldwide acclaim in doing so. His pioneering HMV and Columbia recordings of the composer (all the Bach works included here, except for the first Prelude & Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier, were premiers on disc) sound as fresh and inspiring today as they did when new and reveal that great Bach playing is timeless. A unique live 5th Brandenburg Concerto from New York and a studio E major Violin Sonata with Isolde Menges round out his Bach and this landmark release also includes his remaining solo discs, notably some rare repertoire by Clementi and two of Bach's sons which was recorded for the ambitious Columbia History of Music educational project. These new 2021 transfers by Seth Winner were made using the latest technology and present these historic documents in the best possible sound, revealing more detail of Samuel's playing than has ever previously been captured.
