Händel "Harmonious Blacksmith" Air & Variations

[dolofonos]

I prefer strict performance myself; but it can be refreshing to hear a little wandering, though it demands more effort in the listening.

[Nobilior]

Nearly caricature...Example of the misconception of so-called authenticity. One should compare this to the interpretations of Isolde Ahlgrimm, or Gustav Leonhardt (Leonhardt playing harpsichord, from all sides, his distaste for Handel's music is well-known)

[Lopear27]

@Nobilior What do you mean by caricature?

[nyo267n]

I appreciate this performance, and I feel that there is a lot of knowledge behind it (even there are some mistakes in it). Personally I like this piece performed more straight forward (for instance I find Rachmaninov's performance to be a bit distracting, althoug brilliant).

And yes: If F. Couperin asks you to record Les Barricades (...) you just have to do that.

[redbrian3655]

I like this performance. I agree that the pausing to elocute the ornaments is definitely Baroque style. Yeah there is a note or two mis-plunked, but the performance is lovely with the stop changes. It flows beautifully. People have heard this so many times done one way that it is hard for them to adjust..... TOUGH! Get over it and enjoy. BRIAN

[123musicmax]

if you have the music for this and you can email it, could you please possibly emial to music to me at 'max.bilbe2010@hotmail.co.uk' please?? Because i've been trying to find this music for some time.

Thanks :)

[GoToHell987987]

I am very disappoint. How can a baroque period piece use tempo rubato? There are so many Unpredictable speed up and take time! The performaner doesn't have any musical sense. Also, the last bar is terrible! It is crazy to do the sudden silence and messy improvisation! Honestly, I really can't hear what he plays in the last bar!

[JoaeP2]

@GoToHell987987 all he does is pause, which is actually in the baroque style, and basically play arpeggios of the final chord, which is also in baroque style. He might have overdone it slightly, but all the pauses and slight tempo changes are allowable.

[StevenShields29]

I do NOT like this performance. Aside from the errors, the rhythm is a mess.

[HarpsichordRox]

i dont like it.

[1dtqcssh]

I agree with fcouperin : I too would love hearing Les Baricades from you ...

[stringph]

To me it sounds like a bored player trying as hard as possible to add bells and whistles and make things 'interesting'.

[fcouperin]

de gustibus non disputandum ; )

[LazlosPlane]

Perfect, because you sound like a bored troglodyte struggling to figure out how to put the "pointy thing" into the dead fish.

[stringph]

But you've never heard me!

Anyway, personal abuse means you admit to losing the argument. Bye

[LazlosPlane]

What argument?

[ExplicitMissy]

Well. This was before they had pianos, pedals, or anything like that.

All they have is a harpsichord, and you cannot sustain sound, change the volume of sound (no getting louder and softer), and no way of changing the tone.

Stringph, you should be able to hear the well timed pauses in the left hand and the added trills make the piece a bit more fun. The melodies are quite nice. I won't say this is my favorite piece, but it should be respected for what it is.

[fcouperin]

Beautiful playing... you play so lightly, and breath in such a rhetorical way! To me it seems all that can go wrong surely will in a live performance ; ) never mind that. I have some of your CDs, often your recordings are my predilect. I would love to hear you playing Les Baricades Mysterieuses.