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 Claudio
Jacomucci, founder and teacher of the Italian Accordion Academy,
gives Master Classes all over the world. He is considered one
of the most skillful accordionists on the international scene
and his work has contributed to developing new performing techniques
and innovative pedagogy. It is, therefore, no question that he
would perform an outstanding concert on this CD devoted entirely
to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750).
There are many different ways to perform the preludes and fugues
of J.S. Bach, often depending upon the instrument being used by
the performer. This has no doubt served the artist well, but it
also provides a window into the world of the composer who often
wrote his music for one instrument, then used it not once but
again for other instruments. Even if Bach did not indicate phrasing,
for example, in the original composition he might have done so
when he used it for another.
It is not only phrasings, however, that often change; tempi are
many times either slower or faster depending upon the instrument
or the performer. And one of the fascinations of listening to
fine musicians perform such beautiful repertoire is the study
of how they make the composition theirs. It is without a doubt
that Claudio Jacomucci has studied the music of J.S. Bach and
the performances of other fine artists.
Teachers of young emerging performers so often earmark particular
recordings as ones for their students to study; this CD just might
become one of those. Jacomucci plays each piece with a clear,
clean line while bringing out the accents, dynamics, and expression
in a manner not often heard or perhaps even possible, on instruments
other than the accordion. He provides a showcase not only for
the composer's music but also for the accordion and for himself
as performer. He accomplishes it with élan, polish and
precision.
So many competitions in the music world require the performance
of music from The Well-Tempered Clavier as a real test of true
musicianship, meaning the performer not only performs technically
well and with abundant control but understands the reason behind
all his choices. Regarding the above-mentioned phrasing and tempi,
the acclaimed book, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Volume I, edited
by Dr. Willard Palmer, Alfred Music Co. publishers, provides a
ready source not only for the actual notes, but also for much
well-researched and exceedingly valuable information about those
topics and many more. It is pointed out that the Praeludium and
fuga II in C minor, BWV 847 is indicated at a tempo of Allegro
moderato (100-112) and Allegretto moderato (66-72), respectively.
The editor cites the actual performance tempi of artists such
as Bischoff, Czerny, Busoni, Gould, Landowska, Tureck, Kirkpatrick,
and Richter. One cannot help but notice the several choices. It
is these choices which also give other performers the choice,
if you will, to play faster or slower. Claudio Jacomucci has chosen
to play quite fast in some instances but not without musicianship.
It is fine playing and demonstrates that true musicians may indeed
vary their interpretations from that which one may have heard
and assumed as the one and only way to play a piece. The music
speaks for itself!
One must mention the well-known, difficult and popular Passacaglia
and Fuge, BWV 582, also heard on this recording. This organ composition
is ideal for studying the musical form of the passacaglia and
it has been arranged for various instruments, more notably for
orchestra. For those who might still resist any such arrangements,
we must remember Bach arranged and re-arranged many of his compositions
several times. He did not seem to think it wrong to use either
music or instruments as appropriately needed. The artist on this
CD, Claudio Jacomucci, has certainly used the accordion appropriately
in performing each and every piece heard on this outstanding recording.
It is a fine recording and I most certainly recommend you seek
it out and purchase it. You will admire the work of the performer,
Claudio Jacomucci, and once again enjoy the repertoire of the
composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. The web site for the artist is:
www.claudiojacomucci.com He may be reached at: info@claudiojacomucci.com
Reviewed by Joan
Cochran Sommers
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