Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

1) Mass in B minor On a MCA Classics double decker album. The Vienna State Opera Orchestra conducted by Hermann Scherchen, with the Vienna Academy Chorus with Pierrette Alarie (soprano), Nan Merriman (alto), Leopold Simoneau (tenor) and Gustav Niedlinger (bass) Willy Boskowsky on solo violin and Franz Holetschek on organ. There are other good recordings of this, but this is the one I have in my collection. The Kyrie is magnificent, as is the Sanctus, my two favorite parts.

2) Complete Works for Harpsichord, Vol. 10: Goldberg Variations, Chromatic Fantasia & Fugue On a Digital Concerto recording, with Christiane Jaccottet at the cembalo. The Goldberg Variations were allegedly composed for an insomniac, Count Keyserlingk of Dresden, who asked Bach to write some soft and cheerful pieces to brighten up his sleepless nights. Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, after whom the variations were named, was the Count's harpsicord player.

3) Brandenburg Concertos 1-6 On the London Records label, 2 CD set, with Benjamin Britten leading the English Chamber Orchestra. These six concerti grande (concertos for more than one instrument) are perhaps the finest of the Baroque era. The CD also includes Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D minor and Concerto for flute and strings in G minor, performed by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, directed by Neville Marriner.
Listen to MIDI files for an idea what this music sounds like*:
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major, BWV 1046
[I - Allegro] [II - Adagio] [III - Allegro] [ IV - Menuetto: Trio I] [ V - Polacca: Trio II]
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049
[I - Allegro] [II - Andante] [III - Presto]
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050
[I - Allegro] [II - Affettuoso] [III - Allegro]
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat major, BWV 1051
[I - Allegro] [II - Adagio ma non troppo] [III - Allegro]
* Keep in mind these are just MIDI files and are by no means as good as a full orchestral version.

4) French Suites Nos. 1-6, English Suite No. 3, Italian Concerto On an EMI Classics label, a 2 CD set, with Andrei Gavrilov at the piano for the six French Suites, and Stanislav Bunin plays piano for the English Suite and Italian Concerto. Originally written for harpsichord or clavicord, these pieces adapt wonderfully to modern instrumentation.





I'll add more as I find enough information to give a decent listing. I listen to more than I have in my cd collection, and by no means own cd's of all my favorite pieces.

Copyright 1998, kye@icsi.net

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