Hyperion continues their most intriguing series of Bach piano transcriptions by various distinguished pianists and this time it is the turn of three figures with an Australian connection played by an Australian pianist, Piers Lane!
Percy Grainger surely needs no introduction as an arranger and here his contribution is most welcome. The Toccata and Fugue is positively buoyant and I also enjoyed the aptly titled "Blithe Bells", another example of the musical gifts of this composer cum arranger.
Wilhelm Friedmann was one of those towering pianists of yesteryear and his contribution to the Bach school was an immeasurable one. The various short pieces such as "Morning Song", "Boureé", and the magisterial arrangement of the Toccata and Fugue are played with exuberant joyousness by Lane who is really under the skin of such music.
Finally we have a short arrangement by William Murdoch who transcribes Bach's own arrangement of a Vivaldi concerto! Otherwise this is a disc to treasure on all counts. Volume 4 please!
Copyright © 2003, Gerald Fenech