On the Talents of Russia label, RCD 16222, is Sergi Slepokourov playing works by Bach, Strauss, Rossini, Glinka, Pakhulsky, Zolotaryev and Ivanov on the bayan.

Reviewed by Peter Wilding.
(who obtained his copy through Amazon)

Last year I was flicking through the files on offer at Classical Music Archives, and typed Scarlatti in the search engine. There were a few hits, so I clicked on one played by Maria Vlasova. Without looking closely, I assumed it would be either harpsichord or piano.

Wrong! Maria is a virtuoso classical accordionist, and her performance opened up a whole new world of listening pleasure for me. Other links led to my discovery of the bayan, a larger relative of the accordion, having rows of buttons rather than a keyboard. So impressed was I that I searched Amazon for bayan music, and came up with the gem in question. About half of the 70+ minute programme is devoted to the works of JS Bach, including transcriptions of two of the mighty organ works – the famous T & F in d min., and the great P&F in b min.

A large bayan has eleven registers and is made up of many thousands of individual parts. The bottom of its range seems similar to that of the ‘cello while the upper end equals that of the violin. Tone though, is more akin to the oboe and the family of reed instruments.

The recording spans 21 years of Slepokourov’s career:

• Toccata and Fugue in d min for organ, recorded in 1973, 8:31
• Prelude and Fugue in b min, recorded in 1975, 10:58
• Prelude from English Suite No.5 in e min, recorded in 1994, 6:03
• Chakona from Partite No.2 in d min., recorded in 1994, 13:43

There is a reasonably discernible step-up in “presence” in the 1994 recordings, due no doubt to digital recording.

Organists and organ buffs know the first two pieces forwards, backwards and inside out as well, and we all have our favourite lists of instruments and performers. I have to say that an accordion for this music would have been well down on my list. I mean, not even on it at all!

I now think differently, and believe the sound created by Slepokourov would equal that coming from the very best 2-manual harmoniums. I asked a friend for a second opinion, and I can do no better than quote him directly –

“I have never been a lover of accordions, particularly button accordions, so when I heard Slepokourov’s recording of Bach’s music played on the bayan, I felt like the little girl watching the magician and asking ‘How does he do that?’ This recording has made me look at the button accordion in a new light. I didn’t realise it was capable of such dynamics and colour.” (Steve Gough)

I agree, and hope that this might encourage readers to look out for classical bayan music, so very much a part of Russian culture, and becoming increasingly popular elsewhere.

The other works on the disc are outside of the scope of organ appreciation, but are, nevertheless, virtuoso performances.

Peter Wilding.

Disclaimer: The opinons of the reviewers are not necessarily those of the producers and owners of nzorgan.com