Walter/Wendy Carlos: "Switched On Bach" C/D?

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I'd say classic!

Sure, the idea of playing old classical pieces in a "modern" arrangement may sound a bit naff, and the result is often very cheesy.

But in the case of Bach, it works because Bach was never too preoccupied with what kind of instruments his pieces should be played on. In fact "Die Kunst der Fuge" is a 100 per cent "Theoretical" work that isn't written for any particular instrument(s) at all.

This means that playing these pieces on a synth makes just as much sense as playing them on anything else. And it sounds great. Those early synth sounds are great. The playing is great. The use of a Moog in this context was rather innovative in 1968.
And of course those compositions are great or they wouldn't have survived for more than 350 years.

So this album is surely a classic for me!

― Geir Hongro, Friday, 13 April 2007 11:37 (eighteen years ago)

I have the "Switched-On" boxset, but have just touched really lightly upon her renditions of the Brandenburgs so far. I kind of like it (has a charming quality to it) though could see where others would not.
Say what you want about the music, but at least she is someone who puts exemplary premiums on packaging and remastering.

My favorite work by her is the Soundtrack to Tron and Beauty in the Beast (doubt you would like the latter, Geir :) ).

― Joe, Friday, 13 April 2007 14:39 (eighteen years ago)

first classical record to ever go platinum. definitely the album that got me into Bach. I love all her classical transcriptions, you can hear every single note so clearly.

her original compositions Timesteps, Sonic Seasonings and Beauty and the Beast are the insane masterpieces though, there are times when I put on BATB and I think 'this is the strangest record I own' and it's no joke

her switched on bach 2000 is interesting, updated to the digital synthesizer sounds and performed in various historical tunings. on the pieces with the organ sounds & sustains where the tuning really shines out, probably sounds more like Bach than most contemporary recordings of Bach

― Milton Parker, Friday, 13 April 2007 15:19 (eighteen years ago)

Is Timesteps on BATB? I loved that track on the Clockwork Orange sdtrk.

― baaderonixx, Friday, 13 April 2007 15:35 (eighteen years ago)

Sonic Seasonings is mindblowingly awesome.

― ian, Friday, 13 April 2007 15:39 (eighteen years ago)

The coolest record my dad ever bought. Also, he was really into MJQ's Blues on Bach

― bendy, Friday, 13 April 2007 15:48 (eighteen years ago)

"Classical Music" purists: Classical or Duddical?

― Myonga Vön Bontee, Friday, 13 April 2007 18:13 (eighteen years ago)

EPCOT 82 lives on, if only in my heart :-(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klWePwyxTcI

― PappaWheelie V, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:35 (eighteen years ago)

Classic.

― Belisarius, Friday, 13 April 2007 21:04 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

Wendy Carlos in general = genius

― I know, right?, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 12:37 (sixteen years ago)

These records should really be Dud but they are actually Classic

― Tom D., Wednesday, 13 August 2008 12:41 (sixteen years ago)

Shouldn't it really be the "Switched-On Bachset"?

― libcrypt, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 12:42 (sixteen years ago)

There is a very fine line between dodgy ringtone and musical sophistication, this is the lesson she teaches us.

― I know, right?, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 12:42 (sixteen years ago)

NB: Nothing cheesy about this record. Total amazing spooky spaced-out genius.

― libcrypt, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 12:43 (sixteen years ago)

Also, beauty in the beast is way better

― I know, right?, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 12:44 (sixteen years ago)

even more bonkers and evocative

― I know, right?, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 12:44 (sixteen years ago)

two years pass...

http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/Season12/baklava/SwitchedonBach.jpg

the album art is so classic

― tumlbrah (dayo), Monday, 27 September 2010 13:03 (fourteen years ago)

five years pass...

I am grateful to whoever posted the youtube of Beauty in the Beast the other day, can't remember what thread it was on but damn it is a remarkable piece of music.

― calzino, Sunday, 21 February 2016 11:05 (nine years ago)

thread title is a dud

― a self-reinforcing downward spiral of male-centric indie (katherine), Sunday, 21 February 2016 16:19 (nine years ago)

I know, but the other one is ruined by the noughties ILX arsehole clique, I thought this one was the lesser evil.

― calzino, Sunday, 21 February 2016 16:28 (nine years ago)

I linked Beauty in the Beast on the time travel thread and this thread.

― Hi! I'm twice-coloured! (Sund4r), Sunday, 21 February 2016 16:57 (nine years ago)

if that's what you meant

― Hi! I'm twice-coloured! (Sund4r), Sunday, 21 February 2016 16:58 (nine years ago)

Thanks Sund4r. Have you heard Digital Moonscapes? I have been blasting it out this aft and it is incredible as well.

― calzino, Sunday, 21 February 2016 17:17 (nine years ago)

No, I haven't!

― Hi! I'm twice-coloured! (Sund4r), Sunday, 21 February 2016 23:17 (nine years ago)

I know, but the other one is ruined by the noughties ILX arsehole clique,

Ooooh, get her.

― Thomas of Britain (Tom D.), Sunday, 21 February 2016 23:52 (nine years ago)

Ahistoricism in the service of personal interests is a dud.

― Three Word Username, Monday, 22 February 2016 09:37 (nine years ago)

Let me say that in a less assholish way: the record is a thing that exists in the world under two names; Wendy Carlos is a person who has made it abundantly how she wants to be called. I don't think it's a "dud" move to refer to the album in a way it was originally called, many copies of which exist in the world with that name. There's only one Wendy, and she's Wendy.

― Three Word Username, Monday, 22 February 2016 10:01 (nine years ago)

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