Uncommon Bach (HD-DVD/Music Experience in 3-Dimensional-Surround/DTS-HD/Surround
Records)
Sound: B+ Music: B
Ever
since Wendy Carlos stunned the world with an all-electronic hit album in 1969
called Switched-On Bach, the
legendary composer has been a constant source of material for those who love
music and can see the unique, subtle innovations in the master’s work. In the multi-channel music era, Johann
Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750) continues to be a popular favorite for conductors
and music performers like Alexander Golberg Jero, who has issued yet another
first connected to the Bach name.
After the
rise & fall of DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD still hanging in there as
products of a small all-audio high definition battle a few years ago, the
recent High Definition video launches should have inspired a major record label
to do something with either Blu-ray or HD-DVD.
Instead, small, bold Surround Records embraced the HD-DVD format and
released an all-audio album called Uncommon
Bach. A brand new recording using
DTS-HD playback, the disc claims a “Music Experience in 3-Dimensional-Surround”
and despite some higher definition codecs available, it does deliver impressive
playback.
The music
selections are:
1. BWV208, Was mir behagt, ist nur die
muntre Jagd!
2. BWV1, Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, No.3 Aria
3. BWV5, Wo soll ich fliehen hin, No.1 Chorus
4. BWV10, Meine Seel' erhebet den Herren!, No.1 Chorus
5. BWV33, Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, No.1 Choral
6. BWV225, Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, No.1 Singet dem Herrn
7. BWV525, Trio Sonata No.1 in Eb, No.1 Allegro
8. BWV530, Trio Sonata No.6, No. 1 Vivace
9. BWV592, Concerto in G, No.1 Allegro Assai
10. BWV812, French Suite, No.1 in D
11. BWV831, French Overture, No.3 Gavotte
Set to
decent full-color stills of flowers throughout, much like a DVD-Audio, where
you do not have to watch the images if you so choose, the songs are done all
electronically. However, electronic
music has come a long way since Carlos broke so much ground four decades
ago. The results are very pleasant
playback and nicely performed versions of these classics. Best of all, if you have a proper surround
set-up and your speakers can create a proper soundfield, you really will notice
an excellent surround experience that many will find of demo quality and is the
reason people invest in such systems to begin with.
Though we
take surround for granted, Jero seems to love this music and has an advanced
understanding of how good surround music can be. If you have an HD-DVD player, you’ll want
this disc.
For more
multi-channel Bach works, try these links:
DTS Entertainment 5.1 Disc
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3484/DTS+Classical+Music+Discs
Uncommon Bach DTS CD (NOT THE SAME AS THIS TITLE;
meaning unusual selections/two different conductors & releases)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/407/Uncommon+Bach+(DTS+CD)
- Nicholas Sheffo
