Credits:

Mahler

Description:

Bach at the forefront of the 18th century in the most popular chamber orchestration of the time! Bach was a virtuoso organist from his youth, and in later years he was known for his skillful improvisations on the harpsichord. After moving to Leipzig, where he was entrusted with conducting the Collegium Musicum, Bach completed a series of double and triple concertos in which multiple harpsichords and string instruments played together. According to Folker, Bach's biographer, these concertos were supposed to be performed in a chamber setting with only one string player per part, perhaps because of the large number of soloists. Today, however, recordings of these concertos for two harpsichords in such chamber orchestration are extremely rare.The latest album by Ensemble Masque, an international group of ancient instruments that has frequently visited Japan for La Folle Journée TOKYO, is an album of Bach's three double keyboard concertos in the style of that time, with a very small orchestra! The harpsichord is a meticulously reproduced instrument modeled after 18th century German instruments, and the two talented musicians play vigorous solos, while the string parts are played by one person each, except for the bass part, which is layered by the cello and double bass. The new recording is a masterpiece, and it is a great reminder of the greatness of Bach's music. It is also worth noting that Peter Volney, a distinguished scholar who is also a member of the Leipzig Bach Society, provides a commentary on the works based on his latest findings. Naxos Japan

Tracklisting:

1.Concerto for 2 Harpsichords in C Minor, BWV 1060~I. Allegro
2.Concerto for 2 Harpsichords in C Minor, BWV 1060~II. Largo Ovvero Adagio
3.Concerto for 2 Harpsichords in C Minor, BWV 1060~III. Allegro
4.Concerto for 2 Harpsichords in C Major, BWV 1061~I. [...]
5.Concerto for 2 Harpsichords in C Major, BWV 1061~II. Adagio Ovvero Largo
6.Concerto for 2 Harpsichords in C Major, BWV 1061~III. Fuga. Vivace
7.Concerto for 2 Harpsichords in C Minor, BWV 1062~I. [...]
8.Concerto for 2 Harpsichords in C Minor, BWV 1062~II. Andante E Piano
9.Concerto for 2 Harpsichords in C Minor, BWV 1062~III. Allegro Assai
10.Prelude and Fugue in E Flat Major, BWV 552~I. Prelude
11.Prelude and Fugue in E Flat Major, BWV 552~II. Fugue