Ana loves most kinds of our music, but she really, really loves the music of Bach. One of her all-time favorites is Bach's Prelude #2 in C minor (BWV 847) from the Well Tempered Clavier. Ana said that if you could lift the hood of the universe and listen to the engine running, it would sound just like this famous piece (and she should know, having traveled through a good part of it).
Ana learned to play that prelude, but not as well as she would like. Her favorite recorded version is by the well-known Brooklyn harpsichordist Rebecca Pechefsky. Ms. Pechefsky, who has actually met Ana Darcy, graciously allowed us to present it to Ana's fans.
Ana loves the sparkly, resonant, brilliant sound of the instrument. Most people, particularly piano students, are familiar with the Well Tempered Clavier on the piano. If you are one of those, you owe it to yourself to hear it on the same kind of instrument for which Bach composed it. It's stunning.
You may hear Sviatoslav Richter playing that prelude here. (If you right click and open in another tab, you may listen while you continue your visit to Ana's site.)
If you would like your own copy of Ms. Pechefsky's splendid, benchmark recording of the complete Book 1 of the Well Tempered Clavier, you may find it here, or here at Amazon, where you can sample all 24 tracks! Ana also loves the Fugue in c minor which follows the Prelude (track 4).
To hear the theme song of the Distant Cousin books, another piece that Ana loves, slightly more mellow and reflective, played on the theorbo, click here.
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