Orchestra: Scottish National Orchestra Wind Ensemble, Scottish Ensemble
Conductor: Jonathan Rees
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Virgin Classics
Size: 748 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Disc 1:
01. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major, BWV 1046: I. (Allegro)
02. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major, BWV 1046: II. Adagio
03. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major, BWV 1046: III. Allegro
04. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major, BWV 1046: IV. Menuet – Trio I – Polacca – Trio II
05. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major, BWV 1047: I. (Allegro)
06. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major, BWV 1047: II. Andante
07. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major, BWV 1047: III. Allegro assai
08. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048: I. (Allegro)
09. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048: II. Adagio – III. Allegro
10. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G Major, BWV 1049: I. Allegro
11. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G Major, BWV 1049: II. Andante
12. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G Major, BWV 1049: III. Presto
13. Violin Concerto in E BWV1042: I. Allegro
14. Violin Concerto in E BWV1042: II. Adagio
15. Violin Concerto in E BWV1042: III. Allegro assai
Disc 2:
01. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, BWV 1050: I. Allegro
02. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, BWV 1050: II. Affetuoso
03. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, BWV 1050: III. Allegro
04. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B Flat Major, BWV 1051: I. (Allegro)
05. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B Flat Major, BWV 1051: II. Adagio ma non tanto
06. Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051, Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B Flat Major, BWV 1051: III. Allegro
07. Violin Concerto in A minor BWV1041: I. [Allegro]
08. Violin Concerto in A minor BWV1041: II. Andante
09. Violin Concerto in A minor BWV1041: III. Allegro assai
10. Double Violin Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1043: I. Vivace
11. Double Violin Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1043: II. Largo ma non tanto
12. Double Violin Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1043: III. Allegro
Irresistibly compelling
I picked this CD set up on a whim, and I’m absolutely thrilled that I did. These are galant, period performance-style interpretations of these wonderful pieces, but played on modern instruments. In my mind, that’s an unbeatable combination. Perhaps owing to the relatively small size of the ensemble, these recordings have an amazing clarity of sound–every instrument’s voice is clearly audible, and the performers take care to spotlight certain instruments as the concerti demand (e.g., the trumpet in the second Brandenburg concerto, the recorders in the fourth, the harpsichord in the fifth… and obviously in the violin concertos, the violin(s) take center stage). Each concerto is played with wonderful verve and gusto, but also with seemingly effortless technical precision. These might not be the “best” interpretations of Bach’s Brandenburg and violin concerti available (whatever “best” means), but they brim with life and a clear understanding of the music, and the result is irresistibly compelling Bach–as Bach is supposed to be. Getting all this music at mid-price is a bargain as it stands; when the interpretations are this good, it’s an unbeatable opportunity.