After his landmark recording of some of Johann Sebastian Bach's most important keyboard music, one of the great Bach interpreters of our time turns his attention to the composer's preferred instrument. The sound of the clavichord is, says András Schiff, an invitation into "a new world, a quiet oasis in our noisy, troubled times. Thanks to the clavichord I now play and hear Bach differently." An intimate and personal instrument – "a most gentle creature, ideal for playing alone" – it can also be, as Schiff notes, a demanding and unforgiving teacher. "On the clavichord we have only our fingers at disposal, they must create the music with the finest gradations of touch."

The early keyboard works are emphasized here, bringing us closer to the sounds of Bach's day, and the "cantabile art" of the clavichord. The album opens with the Capriccio sopra la lontananza del fratro dilettissmo, journeys through Inventions and Sinfonias, and concludes with an extraordinary account of the Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue. On this recording, Schiff's first on the clavichord, he plays a replica of a 1743 Specken instrument, built by Belgian craftsman Joris Potvlieghe. The album was recorded in the Kammermusik Saal of Bonn's Beethoven-Haus and produced by Manfred Eicher.

TRACKLISTING:

CD 1
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - CAPRICCIO SOPRA LA LONTANANZA DE IL FRATRO DILETTISSIMO BWV 992
1. Ist eine Schmeichelung der Freunde, um denselben von der Reise abzuhalten. Arioso. Adagio
2. Ist eine Vorstellung unterschiedlicher Casuum, die ihm der Fremde könnten vorfallen
3. Ist ein allgemeines Lamento der Freunde. Adagissimo
4. Allhier kommen die Freunde, weil sie doch sehen, dass es anders nicht kann sein, und nehmen Abschied
5. Aria di Postiglione. Adagio poco
6. Fugue all'imitatione della cornetta di postiglione

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - INVENTIONS BWV 772-786
7. No. 1 in C major
8. No. 2 in c minor
9. No. 3 in D major
10. No. 4 in d minor
11. No. 5 in E-flat major
12. No. 6 in E major
13. No. 7 in e minor
14. No. 8 in F major
15. No. 9 in f minor
16. No. 10 in G major
17. No. 11 in g minor
18. No. 12 in A-flat major
19. No. 13 in a minor
20. No. 14 in B-flat major
21. No. 15 in b minor22

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - FOUR DUETS BWV 802-805
22. No. 1 in e minor
23. No. 2 in F major
24. No. 3 in G major
25. No. 4 in a minor

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - RICERCAR À 3
26. from „Das Musikalische Opfer" BWV 1079

CD 2
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - SINFONIAS BWV 787-801
1. No. 1 in C major
2. No. 2 in c minor
3. No. 3 in D major
4. No. 4 in d minor
5. No. 5 in E-flat major
6. No. 6 in E major
7. No. 7 in e minor
8. No. 8 in F major
9. No. 9 in f minor
10. No. 10 in G major
11. No. 11 in g minor
12. No. 12 in A major
13. No. 13 in a minor
14. No. 14 in B-flat major
15. No. 15 in b minor

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - CHROMATIC FANTASIA AND FUGUE BWV 903
16. Fantasia
17. Fugue