Anderson & Roe Piano Duo - The Art of Bach (2015)

The U.S. branch of the Steinway piano firm has issued a series of piano recordings that is carefully curated so as to reflect the company's roots in the music scene of a century ago, or a bit more. This gives the label's output a satisfying coherence as well as bringing forth some intriguing individual concepts. This release by the Anderson & Roe piano duo is a representative example that might appeal to those who've had their fill of severe historical-performance approaches to Bach. It wouldn't have been strange in the 19th century to present an evening of Bach's music on two pianos, for that medium was a common one for bringing music of large dimensions into the home or a small community venue. Greg Anderson and Elizabeth Joy Roe thus capture a slice of the American musical past, but they also expand upon it creatively, which is what brings projects like this to life. They employ the talents of a variety of arrangers, including themselves, and they cover such unexpected items as the St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, in a suite of their own devising. The result is a program that views the range of Bach's creativity under a different lens from those anybody else has used. As the graphics have it, "Where else can one find the apex of scholarly composition, The Art of Fugue, featured alongside one of the monuments of sacred music, the St. Matthew Passion?" Throw some chorales into the mix, and there will be an idea of the considerable appeal of this release, recorded at the ideally sized Concert Hall of the Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, the State University of New York.

Tracklist:
01 - Bach Gottes Zeit Ist Die Allerbeste Zeit, BWV 106 - Sonatina in E flat (arr. pf 4h, Gyorgy Kurtag)
02 - Bach Concerto In C For 2 Keyboards, BWV 1061A- 1. (Allegro)
03 - Bach Concerto In C For 2 Keyboards, BWV 1061A- 2. Adagio ovvero Largo
04 - Bach Concerto In C For 2 Keyboards, BWV 1061A- 3. Fuga. Vivace
05 - Bach St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Aria. Erbarme Dich (arr. 2pf, A&R)
06 - Bach St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Chorale. Aus Liebe Will Mein Heiland Sterben (arr. 2pf, A&R)
07 - Bach St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Aria. Wie Wunderbarlich Ist Doch Diese Strafe! (arr. 2pf, A&R)
08 - Bach St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Chorale. O Haupt Voll Blut Und Wunden (arr. 2pf, A&R)
09 - Bach St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Aria. Mache Dich, Mein Herze, Rein (arr. 2pf, A&R)
10 - Bach The Art Of Fugue, BWV 1080 - Contrapunctus 9
11 - Bach The Art Of Fugue, BWV 1080 - Contrapunctus 13a
12 - Bach The Art Of Fugue, BWV 1080 - Contrapunctus 13b
13 - Bach 14 Canons, BWV 1087 - Five Canons on the Goldberg ground
14 - Bach Herr Jesu Christ, Wahr' Mensch Und Gott, BWV 127 - Die Seele Ruht In Jesu Händen (arr. vn + 2pf, A&R)
15 - Bach Was Mir Behagt, Ist Nur Die Muntre Jagd, BWV 208 ('Hunt Cantata') - Sheep May Safely Graze (arr. 2pf Mary Howe)
16 - Bach Brandenburg Concerto #3 In G, BWV 1048 - 1. Allegro con spirito (arr. pf 4h, Reger)
17 - Bach Brandenburg Concerto #3 In G, BWV 1048 - 2. Adagio (arr. pf 4h, Reger)
18 - Bach Brandenburg Concerto #3 In G, BWV 1048 - 3. Allegro (arr. pf 4h, Reger)