Stokowski’s Symphonic Bach (2 CD, FLAC)

Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Matthias Bamert
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach (arr. L. Stokowski)
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks+cue)
Label: Chandos
Size: 587 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

VOLUME 1
# Toccata and Fugue, for organ in D minor, BWV 565 (BC J37)
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Richard Howarth, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068 Aria (Air on the G String)
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Richard Howarth, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Fugue for organ in G minor (“Little”), BWV 578 (BC J66)
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Richard Howarth, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Cantata No. 208, “Was mir behagt,” (Hunt Cantata), BWV 208 (BC G1, G3) Sheep may safely graze
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Richard Howarth, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Prelude and Fugue, for keyboard No. 24 in B minor (WTC I/24), BWV 869 (BC L103) Prelude
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Richard Howarth, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Passacaglia and Fugue, for organ in C minor, BWV 582 (BC J79)
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Richard Howarth, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Sonata for violin & keyboard No. 4 in C minor, BWV 1017
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Richard Howarth, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Komm, süsser Tod, for voice & continuo (Schemelli Gesangbuch No. 868), BWV 478 (BC F227)
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Richard Howarth, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Cantata No. 4, “Christ lag in Todes Banden,” BWV 4 (BCA 54) Chorale
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Richard Howarth, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Toccata, Adagio and Fugue, for organ in C major, BWV 564 (BC J36)
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Richard Howarth, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Komm, süsser Tod, for voice & continuo (Schemelli Gesangbuch No. 868), BWV 478 (BC F227)
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Richard Howarth, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Wir glauben all an einen Gott (I), chorale prelude for organ, BWV 680 (BC K12)
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Richard Howarth, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert
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VOLUME 2
# Fantasia and Fugue, for organ in G minor (“Great”), BWV 542 (BC J42, 57, 67)
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 5 in F minor, BWV 1056 Arioso. Largo
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, chorale prelude for organ (Schübler Chorale No. 1), BWV 645 (BC K22)
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, chorale prelude for organ (doubtful), BWV Anh. 49
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004 Chaconne
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Sonata for solo violin No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003 Andante sostenuto
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Partita for solo violin No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006 Preludio in E
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (I), chorale prelude for organ á 6 (Clavier-Übung III/18), BWV 686 (BC K18)
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Cantata No. 147, “Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben,” BWV 147 (BC A174) Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), BWV 244 (BC D3b) My Soul Is Athirst
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Partita for solo violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002 Sarabande
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# Aus der Tiefe rufe ich, chorale prelude for organ (by C.P.E. Bach, not JSB), BWV 745
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

# The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103) Fugue in C minor, BWV 847
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Matthias Bamert

Delicious!!

ON MY WORD!!

Here we have one of a pair (so far) of CDs featuring the famous, if not infamous, transcriptions by Leopold Stokowski of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, played by the BBC Philharmonic with great panache, recorded in the latest sparkling digital stereo sound by Chandos, and conducted, as if his life depended on it, by Matthias Bamert.

Bamert, a composer/conductor in his mid-sixties, studied with Boulez and Stockhausen, amongst others, apprenticed under Szell, later was an assistant conductor under Stokowski himself, and was named Resident Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra under Lorin Maazel. He has served as Music Director of the Swiss Radio Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Director of the Glasgow contemporary music festival Musica Nova from 1985 to 1990. He has conducted the world premieres of works by many composers, including Toru Takemitsu, John Casken, James MacMillan and Wolfgang Rihm. As Director of the Lucerne Festival from 1992 to 1998, he was responsible for the opening of a new concert hall, instituted a new Easter Festival, a piano festival, expanded the programme and increased the festival’s activities.

All this is by way of explaining that Maestro Bamert is a conductor of impeccable credentials, which can only cause one to wonder as to why he has decided to record the oh-so unfashionable transcriptions of Leopold Stokowski (there are also CDs with Bamert/BBC performing Stokowski’s transcriptions/orchestrations of the music of Mussorgsky, Wagner, Handel, and Vivaldi, amongst others).

Has he gone mad?

Or, perhaps, has he discovered that these old chestnuts, these testaments to Leopold Stokowski’s egocentricities, these musical war horses, long thought dead, might just be something more? In this era of the never ending quest to perform “authentic” renditions of music exactly as we think the composer might have heard it (assuming, of course, Bach, Handel, Mussorgsky, Wagner and the rest owned the latest CD players), has Bamert discovered that sometimes music must be experienced merely for the sheer joy of it? Has Bamert discovered that perhaps “Stokie” knew what he was doing after all?

Beats me. But I can tell you this: I find these exhumations to be absolutely delightful, great, great fun and, yes, I’ll say it, good music making as well. I find this, and its’ companion CDs, to be thoroughly convincing and absolutely delightful. And in this era of political correctness to the ‘nth degree, I find these naughty reminders of our not-so-distant musical past to be absolutely delicious!