Jésus, Que Ma Joie Demeure Et Les Grandes Transcriptions De Jean-Sébastien Bach

Released in 1973 under the La Voix de Son Maître label, this recording features the Bulgarian-born pianist Alexis Weissenberg performing some of Jean-Sébastien Bach's most celebrated transcriptions. The selection centers on the famous chorale 'Jésus, que ma joie demeure' from Cantata BWV 147, alongside other major works such as the Italian Concerto and various organ preludes arranged for piano. This period in Weissenberg’s career was marked by a rigorous intellectual approach to the Baroque repertoire, emphasizing structural clarity and technical precision over the more romanticized interpretations that had previously dominated the performance tradition of these transcriptions.

The album reflects the mid-century trend of high-fidelity recordings dedicated to the solo piano transcriptions of Bach, which sought to bring the complexities of his organ and vocal music to a wider audience through the virtuosic capabilities of a modern concert grand. Weissenberg’s playing style on this disc was noted by critics for its percussive intensity and structural rigor, setting his interpretations apart from those of his contemporaries. As part of the prestigious EMI-affiliated La Voix de Son Maître catalog, the release solidified his reputation as one of the most distinctive and technically formidable interpreters of the twentieth century.