Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 1-4

1. Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major, BWV 1046
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
with Prague Chamber Soloists
Conducted by Andrew Mogrelia

2. Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
with Prague Chamber Soloists
Conducted by Andrew Mogrelia

3. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
with Prague Chamber Soloists
Conducted by Andrew Mogrelia

4. Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
with Prague Chamber Soloists
Conducted by Andrew Mogrelia

Tracks:

I: (Allegro)
II: Adagio
III: Allegro
IV: Menuet & Trio
I: (Allegro)
II: Andante
III: Allegro Assai
I: Allegro
II: Adagio (By George Malcolm)
III: Allegro
I: Allegro - Iona Brown
II: Andante
III: Presto

Customer Reviews:

The epitome of Baroque.......2007-06-26

I'm trying to decide how to rate this. I certainly enjoy this CD and listen to it quite often (especially during study sessions), but on the other hand, I can't help but feel that a person needs a certain level of understanding and respect for Baroque music to appreciate this CD.

Yes, you've got the infamous 3rd Brandenburg Concerto, and yes, this CD is played wonderfully. It's true that this is a fabulous bargain, but to really love it, a person needs to love Bach and Baroque music. I simply like this CD. I find it a purely enjoyable listen (and personally think that some of the other Brandenburg Concertos are better than no. 3, just saying) that I come back to quite often.

Really, the great playing and wonderful bargain scream "BUY ME". It's a friendly buy that is a great deal. You won't regret it, even if you find that the style isn't quite your favorite.

Recommended.

Wonderful recording of this marvelous Bach's masterpiece.......2007-06-12

I was very pleassed to hear this wonderfull recording of Neville Marriner of these marvelous Bach's masterpieces.

Best modern instrument performances in my opinion.......2007-03-26

I think with the Brandenbergs, the deciding factor on which set to buy is whether you prefer modern instruments or period instruments. There are probably more great period instrument recordings (Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert is my personal favorite) to choose from than modern instrument recordings, but I think this is the best available modern instrument recording. You pretty much cannot go wrong with anything by Marriner and the ASMF, but this is truly one of their better recordings and has been for a number of years. There may be others out there just as good, but I doubt if you will find any better.

Bach at his best.......2007-02-08

Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, like much of Bach's works, are very modern sounding pieces. That's what makes them so appealing. Although each movement is no more than a few minutes long, the melodies and form of each are well developed and gorgeous.

This recording is especially worth buying because Marriner and the Academy produce a well-balanced and well-played interpretation. The instruments are not period instruments, and I think that that adds to the overall flavor of this recording. Although Boston Baroque offer recordings using period pieces, they don't match the interpretive genius of Neville Marriner.

Overall, this disc is a great buy -- only a few dollars for some of my favorite pieces by Bach. Don't let the low price fool you into believing that that somehow is an indication of quality.

Easy to Enjoy.......2006-11-25

I am not a musician nor can I identify Bach's Brandenburg Concerto number one from number five. However, I am an avid listener and do enjoy classical music. I know how good the Academy of St Martin in the Fields is and what a great conductor Sir Neville Marriner is. Most of all, I can identify a real bargain when I see one and this CD qualifies as a great bargain.

Bach's concertos are relaxing and very enjoyable. The Academy performs under the sure hand of Sir Marriner at the highest level. Each CD is just over an hour, the sound is clear and as Gramophone says "these performances are easy to enjoy".

This review refers to both the CD for concertos Nos. 1-4 and the CD for concertos Nos. 5 & & with Orchestral Suite No. 1.

Bach - The Complete Brandenburg Concertos / Pearlman, Boston Baroque

Average customer rating:

nobody tops Boston Baroque
posthorn problems
He was a german baroque father
A Great Set
Great Pair of CDs

Bach - The Complete Brandenburg Concertos / Pearlman, Boston Baroque
Johann Sebastian Bach , Martin Pearlman , Boston Baroque , Christopher Krueger , Marc Schachman , Daniel Stepner , and Friedemann Immer
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000003D1F
Release Date: 1996-07-23

Tracks:

I. (Allegro)
II. Adagio
III. Allegro
IV. Menuetto; Trio; Polonaise; Trio
I. (Allegro)
II. Andante
III. Allegro Assai
I. (Allegro)
II. Adagio
III. Allegro

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Presto
I. Allegro
II. Affettuoso
III. Allegro
I. (Allegro)
II. Adagio Ma Non Tanto
III. Allegro

Amazon.com

Boston Baroque and Martin Pearlman recorded a splendid set of the Brandenburg Concertos on period instruments in 1993 and 1994. Made entirely in the US, these snappy, crisply articulated, and fluent performances rely heavily on the talents of violinist Daniel Stepner (who doubles as one of the two solo violists in Concerto No. 6). Among the highlights are the joyous finale to Concerto No. 4 and the superb cembalo cadenza in No. 5, played by Pearlman. Along with outstanding sound, there's a winning sense of freshness and discovery in these performances. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

nobody tops Boston Baroque.......2007-05-12

I am just knocked out by Boston Baroque's performances and the technical perfection of their recordings. This music is still very much alive in these good hands. If you like Bach and you have a decent sound system, you'll play this one for your friends.

posthorn problems.......2006-09-29

the telarc recording is full and detailed as would be expected, but the posthorn player botches a lot of lines, or at least plays them with totally hamfisted phrasing. of course it's probably tough on an older instrument but the end result is that it distracted me from what was probably an otherwise excellent recording.

He was a german baroque father.......2005-03-18

He wrote this piece in Köthen 24.3.1721 near the capital Berlin. this work was dedicated to Count Christian Von Brandenburg.
The six Concertos are bizarre dimension from Bach. Because the concertos 1, 3, 5 are dance-menuett sätze. The concertos 2, 4, 6 are fugue forms. The concerto 5 is very special because the Cemballo/Hapsichord was represented or played in a solo instrument. this might be the oldest piano concert in the music history.

PS: this CD is only dedicated to the intelligent music listeners! not to the crappy fans who love Britney Spears or Tina Alquiera.....

A Great Set.......2005-03-17

These are the best versions of the Brandenburgs I have heard. The tempos are quick, as baroque tempos should be, the music sounds light, as baroque music should, and the period instruments make the recording all the more "authentic." I even recommend this over Pinnock and the English Concert's version. Sound quality is very good. Highly recommended.

Great Pair of CDs.......2004-07-14

I don't know much about classical music, but I must say that these CD's are great. I love the music and the production quality is perfect. I've heard the same pieces preformed by other groups and these CD's always sound far better to me.

Johann Sebastian Bach: 6 Brandenburg Concertos / 4 Orchestral Suites - The English Concert / Trevor Pinnock

Average customer rating:

Another five-star review
A wonderful and lifting experience
Outstanding period performances
Good Recordings!
Top Notch Brandenburg

Johann Sebastian Bach: 6 Brandenburg Concertos / 4 Orchestral Suites - The English Concert / Trevor Pinnock
The English Concert , Trevor Pinnock , and Johann Sebastian Bach
Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
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Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (Le Quattro Stagioni Op 8 Nos 1-4) /Standage * English Concert * Pinnock
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Complete Mozart Symphonies / Pinnock, English Concert

ASIN: B0000057D8
Release Date: 1989-05-09

Tracks:

Concerto No.1 BWV 1046: ohne Satzbezeichnung
Concerto No.1 BWV 1046: Adagio
Concerto No.1 BWV 1046: Allegro
Concerto No.1 BWV 1046: Menuetto - Trio 1 - Polacca - Trio 2
Concert No.2 BWV 1047: ohne Satzbezeichnung
Concert No.2 BWV 1047: Andante
Concert No.2 BWV 1047: Allegro assai
Concerto No.3 BWV 1048: ohne Satzbezeichnung
Concerto No.3 BWV 1048: Adagio
Concerto No.3 BWV 1048: Allegro
Concerto No.4 BWV 1049: Allegro
Concerto No.4 BWV 1049: Andante
Concerto No.4 BWV 1049: Presto

Tracks:

Concerto No.5 BWV 1050: Allegro
Concerto No.5 BWV 1050: Affettuoso
Concerto No.5 BWV 1050: Allegro
Concerto No.6 BWV 1051: ohne Satzbezeichnung
Concerto No.6 BWV 1051: Adagio ma non tanto
Concerto No.6 BWV 1051: Allegro
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Ouverture
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Courante
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Gavotte 1-2
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Forlane
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Menuet 1-2
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Bourree 1-2
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Passepied 1-2

Tracks:

Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Ouverture
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Rondeau
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Sarabande
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Bourree 1-2
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Polonaise
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Menuet
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Badinerie
Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Ouverture
Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Air
Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Gavotte 1-2
Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Bourree
Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Gigue
Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Ouverture
Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Bourree 1-2
Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Gavotte
Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Menuet 1-2
Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Rejouissance

Customer Reviews:

Another five-star review.......2007-03-27

I first heard this recording when I got it out of the library and found it so incredible that I had to buy it for myself. The sound is warm, not tinny like the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (the other recording I have, which I've never been terribly fond of), and very expressive. I cannot add any technical comments to the other reviews already written, but I can say that I agree that Trevor Pinnock and Simon Standage are a Baroque musical force to be reckoned with.

A wonderful and lifting experience.......2007-03-02

For me the only lacks in here are just for personal tastes: I find the fifth and sixth concertos a bit boring. On the other hand I've got already six different versions of these Brandenburg and this is which I like the most. The sound is (IMPRESSIVE) crystal clear and is played not only flawless, but with such devotion and passion that I almost fell on my knees the first time I listened to it.
I also recomend the version of Reinhard Goebel guiding the Música Antiqua Köln: it's awsome with its fabolous recreation of the baroque sounds.
If you like Bach and if you had the I Musici version of these Concertos, throw them away and get this Pinnock's: you won't regret a bit and you will be skyrocketed to Heaven.

Outstanding period performances.......2007-02-21

These recordings are excellent. Pinnock's Brandenburg concertos remain the standard for period instruments, offering exceptional musicianship and an authentic rendition. The Overtures are also great, although I greatly prefer the readings of Reinhard Goebel and Musica Antiqua Koln to these. Still, as a low-priced compilation of Bach's most popular orchestral works, this is an excellent set, and you could do much worse. Those who are new to classical music will find this set to be a great starting point.
In spite of the fact that the Brandeburg concertos were recorded using early digital technology, the intimate setting of these small ensembles neutralizes many of the problems of tinny, hollow sound that plagued the digital format in its early years. As for the Orchestral Suites, these were recorded using analog technology and sound fantastic.
These recordings are integral for those who prefer period instrument performances, and this is one of the great pioneering period instrument ensembles out there. Recommended.

Good Recordings!.......2007-01-15

In my opinion this set of recordings is very good. I study music and I have no complaints about how they were done. If you are looking for a very sufficient set of recordings for these works, this is definatly the set.

Top Notch Brandenburg.......2007-01-07

There are tons of Brandenburg recordings out there. How they stack up, of course, is a matter of personal taste. But having listened to many, this one stands out. It's crisp, fresh, and brings out the power of the music. In far too many renditions of Bach, much gets lots. Not so here. Certainly better technology has made things easier over the years. We can hear what might have been muffled in the past. But more than that, this interpretation makes the work come alive. Well done Trevor Pinnock.

Average customer rating:

COMPLETE Brandenburg Concertos . . .
Wundebar!
There seems to be two dominant Brandenburg styles
Brandenburg Gems
Excelente versión de los Brandenburgo

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos (Complete)

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bach - The Complete Brandenburg Concertos / Pearlman, Boston Baroque

ASIN: B000004164
Release Date: 1993-08-10

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F, BWV 1046: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F, BWV 1046: Adagio
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F, BWV 1046: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F, BWV 1046: Menuetto Polacca
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F, BWV 1047: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F, BWV 1047: Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F, BWV 1047: Allegro assai
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G, BWV 1048: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G, BWV 1048: Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G, BWV 1048: Allegro
Violin Concerto In E, BWV 1042: Allegro
Violin Concerto In E, BWV 1042: Adagio
Violin Concerto In E, BWV 1042: Allegro assai

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, BWV 1049: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, BWV 1049: Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, BWV 1049: Presto
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV 1050: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV 1050: Affetuoso
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV 1050: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat, BWV 1051: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat, BWV 1051: Adagio ma non tanto
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat, BWV 1051: Allegro
Violin Concerto In A Minor, BWV 1041: Allegro
Violin Concerto In A Minor, BWV 1041: Andante
Violin Concerto In A Minor, BWV 1041: Allegro assai

Customer Reviews:

COMPLETE Brandenburg Concertos . . ........2006-02-24

Excellent. I enjoy Bach but haven't been able to get the complete Brandenburg Concertos. This is excellent listening for classical music lovers.

Wundebar!.......2005-11-20

I would just like to tell anyone interested in this recording that it is an excellent one. The musicianship is superior, and the sound is fantastic. The listener however, should be aware of the stylistic tendencies of the recording.
If you are looking for the historical kind of recording, this probably is not the ideal choice. The tempos tend to be on the slower side, and mostly modern instruments are used. Nevertheless, if you are not primarily interested in a historically accurate recording, this is wonderful.
All of the pieces have their own distinct character. I personally enjoy Concerto number 4: the recorders give it a light, almost "adorable" kind a feel, as ridiculous as that may sound. Number 5 has a great presentation of the harpsichord. Number 6 is also a rather interesting piece because it involves no violins. Don't underestimate that concerto's poignancy and ability however; the lower strings are more than capable of expression on their own.
I could go on about this recording extensively, but, for the reader's sake as well as mine, I'll end it now. In short, it's a great recording, and I highly recommend it.

There seems to be two dominant Brandenburg styles.......2002-09-30

There's the slow, baroque and very medieval sounding playing and then there's the modern, faster paced playing. I think both are laudable, so I would probably recommend you look at this one and the Anthony Newman one. I personally prefer the Anthony Newman one, as it provides very strong horns and harpsichord with an upbeat tempo. Just thought I'd mention this as most of the Brandenburg stuff I hear over the radio or in 90% of CD's is the slow baroque style.

Brandenburg Gems.......2001-01-01

I wanted to get a complete set of the Brandenburg Concertos, and lucky for me, I picked up this bargain-priced two CD set. This recording is great! I Musici plays with an informed baroque style, but not so much so that they get bogged down in the reactionary, scholarly prerogatives of much of the period instrument movement. The horns ring effortlessly, brightly, and clearly, the sound of the flute is enchanting without using excessive vibrato, and the strings are completely unified creating the full effect of Bach's masterpiece. The violin concertos are taken at a slow tempo, and I Musici, it can be argued, is guilty of overdoing the sentimentality. But the performances of the violin concertos, none-the-less, are solid. This recording is a steal.

Excelente versión de los Brandenburgo.......2000-09-07

La orquesta de cámara I Musici durante muchos años fue considerada una de las mejores de todo el mundo, y aunque se le relaciona sobre todo con la obra de Vivaldi, también interpretaba obras de otros compositores desde el barroco hasta el romanticismo; tal es el caso del presente disco, en el cual esta orquesta se enfrenta a los conciertos de Brandenburgo de Bach. Debo decir que su interpretación resulta muy buena, tomando en cuenta que estos discos se grabaron originalmente en 1965; sin embargo, la calidad de la grabación es excelente, si perdonamos la baja resolución de las grabadoras de la época. Lo realmente sensacional de estos discos es la aparición de Maurice André en el concierto No. 2, de Franz Brüggen en el No. 4 y de Felix Ayo y Maria Teresa Garatti en prácticamente todos los conciertos, lo cual obviamente se traduce en una versión que raya en el virtuosismo. Si a esto añadimos un precio muy razonable por dos discos compactos, encontramos que esta resulta una forma ideal de conocer por primera vez esta obra. Adicionalmente, en estos discos vienen los 2 conciertos para violín solista que Bach compuso, aunque la grabación de estos últimos es todavía más antigua (de 1958).

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Il Giardino armonico

Average customer rating:

Lush, melodic, beautiful
Hmm
I can hardly believe that many of us reviewers listened to the same recording
Not the Best Brandenberg
I love to hate them

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Il Giardino armonico
Johann Sebastian Bach , Giovanni Antonini , Il Giardino armonico , Stefano Barneschi , Paolo Beschi , Marco Bianchi , Marco Cera , Duilio Galfetti , Alberto Grazzi , Paolo Grazzi , and Michele Barchi
Manufacturer: Teldec
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Copland: Appalachian Spring/Fanfare For The Common Man/El Salón México/Danzón Cubano

ASIN: B000000SRC
Release Date: 1997-09-16

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. I In F Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. I In F Major: Adagio
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. I In F Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. I In F Major: Menuetto
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. II In F Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. II In F Major: Andante
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. II In F Major: Allegro Assai
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. III In G Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. III In G Major: Adagio
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. III In G Major: Allegro

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. IV In G Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. IV In G Major: Adante
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. IV In G Major: Presto
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. V In D Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. V In D Major: Affettuoso
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. V In D Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. VI In B Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. VI In B Major: Adagio ma non tanto
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. VI In B Major: Allegro

Amazon.com essential recording

Il Giardino Armonico is an original instruments group made up of skilled young Italian specialists in Baroque music. They bring a light, airy touch to the Brandenburg Concertos, with deeply felt slow movements, sprightly Allegros, and blistering Prestos. Unlike some of their ilk, they play with vitality while avoiding interpretive extremes; the finale of No.3, for example, is taken at a blistering pace but never feels too fast for the music. Solos are highly accomplished, with scintillating violin and wind contributions, along with charmingly blatty period horns in No. 1. The engineering is a big plus, helping to make this one of the best period performances of these perennial favorites. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Lush, melodic, beautiful.......2006-09-10

This is a wonderful example of the Brandenburg Concertos played on period instruments. It is full of life, probably the best rendition I have heard of these concertos. The words "lush" and "melodic" do not do it justice. Giovanni is a master of the recorder - his technique is wonderful and sounds so effortless! My husband is hooked on this CD and he is not a big fan of classical music, and my boss, who likes the bigger sounds of Wagner and big symphonic bands loved this CD. I, myself, am a lover of the more intimate sound of chamber music, baroque and renaissance music. This is one of my all time favorite recordings. A must for your collection!!

Hmm.......2006-04-23

I think when I finally sit down and write my book on how the whole world of art music--from listeners to performers to composers--went totally haywire in the final days of the "Empire" (This'll happen around 2035 AD), I'll try to get permission to quote the series of reviews over head and down below. There's a modern myth that needs to be demolished that says that lovers of classical music are smarty-pantses. Read a bunch of Amazon classical reviews and then go peruse those for a few Aerosmith albums and note the similarities. While I'd argue that classical music aficionados should be a little wiser than most I've heard more mature and inciteful comments from the mouths of Beanie Baby collectors than I have from a lot of Bach and Beethoven fans (I'm immediately recalling one sophisticate who pronounced all music written after the death of Schubert as worthless). What classical music fans have more than anything else is opinions, largely because it's a fertile field for them which is still no excuse for dumb ones. Let me preface with this:

Teldec's marketing of this music has nothing to do with the musicians, the performance, or the composer. If you've ever spent an afternoon in a meeting with marketing "people" you'd know that their contact with anything we would know of as "reality" is tenuous. Current hot imbecilic maxims are about selling sizzles and not steaks, or boxes and not what's inside the boxes. Corporations actually think it's a good idea these days to hire marketing people who aren't fans of the product as it interferes with their spinning, lying, and duplicities, even if they aren't needed. Marketing people should all be carefully placed in a big sizzling box and the lid should be nailed shut.

The silly reputation of this particular group of performers is not the issue here, especially if we're worrying about whether this is going to be "rock and roll" Bach or not. Refer to the previous paragraph and welcome to the Brave New World.

This is a period instrument recording, meaning I, at least, expected blatting horns and fast speeds. Sometimes with recordings like this I expect speeds that many would deem psychotic. I once read that conductors in the early 1800s played like they were at a race track. No less a light than Felix Mendelssohn was mentioned as being a speed freak--the same Mendlessohn who was no taker of risks and thought his good friend Berlioz was a nut case. I assume this happened because there may have been something traditional about it. Classical music slowed down when its audience stopped being younger passionate artists and intellectuals and started being blue-haired ladies living in Philadelphia, middle-aged white guys, and modern Cherubinis. Big Band music used to be played at crazy speeds until it became nursing home music. Henry Rollins stopped shouting and now sounds like he's running for selectman. Slower speeds usually indicate the audience wants to be lulled to sleep and not energized.

The harpsichord sounds metallic because harpsichords often sound metallic. That's why Mr. Piano invented the piano some years later on and why Chopin did not write etudes for harpsichord.

If I've owned only four or five different recordings of a major work I don't tend to get all hot and heavy pro or con on a newer version. Reason? Well, zowie wowie, exposure to that few recordings hardly qualifies me as an expert. I'd feel like a fool pronouncing, say, Kleiber the Younger's Beethoven Fifth the all-time best or worst recording of that symphony based on that kind of meager sampling. Plus, in a crowded field there really is no best, just a clump of standouts near the top of the list.

All this said, let's actually look at this recording for real. First, sonically, it's a marvel. Beautifully engineered with stupendous presence. Second, these kids--punk rockers, rappers, Scientologists, or whatever the marketing jerks portray them as--clearly know how to play their instruments with style, accuracy, and panache. Third, the conductor knows how to make Baroque music breath and wiggle and surge and flow without making it sound like Klemperer and his big-arsed orchestra back in the 1960s (a recording I dearly love). On the other hand this interpretation thoroughly lacks the sewing machine quality that was a deep problem with many period instrument performances, coincidentally during the reign of Philip Glass and Steve Reich.

This recording struck me immediately as a well-reasoned and balanced performance--hardly academically correct (AC not PC), barely delightfully psycho like Goebel's on DGG, and not exactly likeably parlor and wine-and-cheese party safe like older versions by Marriner. I'd call this a vibrant and accomplished set of Brandenburgs perfect for those that want a modern period instrument recording, that are not interested in musico-political cat fights, and that are above needing the juvenile imprimaturs of "all-time greatest" or "best Brandenburg concertos ever!!!"

I'm giving this five stars because I like it a lot, it'll probably be my most frequently played one for a while (of the 756 recordings of this work that I own), and it does everything right. Aesthete below has it nailed.

I can hardly believe that many of us reviewers listened to the same recording.......2006-02-05

I'm a professional singer who specializes in Baroque and early repertoire. This has made me a firm believer in the historical performance movement. It has done so much to give new shape and dynamism to works that were heretofore rendered mostly in broad, lugubrious strokes. The movement continues to evolve, and as it does the amount of color and depth infusing this repertoire continues to grow and take on new dimension. No longer are many of us content to hear Monteverdi and Lully sung with the extremely bright, straight tones of Emma Kirkby and Nancy Argenta, but rather wish to hear the more appropriate lush and shimmery vocal colors of singers like Sandrine Piau, Guillemette Laurens, Christine Brandeis and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson.

With that in mind, I've heard more recordings of the Brandenburgs than I care to name. And I'm just as tired of the anemic sound and too-fast tempi of ensembles like Hogwood's as I am of the too slow, syrupy interpretations of Furtwangler and Karajan. This recording by Il Giardino Armonico is the only recording I've heard that manages to make these extraordinary works really speak.

Antonini bridges the gap between rich lyricism and crisp articulation better than anyone I can think of who performs this repertoire. My favorite of all the Brandenburgs is #4, and the five-voice fugue in the last movement is the standard by which I judge all the best interpretations of this work. Antonini does the most remarkable things with this piece. The subject is rendered by each voice in the most song-like, tuneful, vocal manner. Instead of thumpy, fast, dry (for most period recordings) or wobbly, incoherent, unintelligible (for most modern instrument recordings) here is great legato playing without any loss of crispness or transparency of texture. Where the line may jump a fifth, he connects the lines where most conductors demand extreme separation, and then creates the most astonishing, perfectly shaped messe di voce you can imagine. That said, all the entrances of the fugue subject are completely distinguishable, and no entrance has the same quality as any other. All the instruments are allowed to let their unique color and texture come forth, and Bach surely understood how important this was when he orchestrated the work. Furthermore, all of the silences in the work are sharply drawn by the ensemble and as dramatic as you might hear in any Beethoven symphony. I could hardly believe what I was hearing, and I was enormously grateful that, finally, someone got it right.

The other great measure of a high-quality period recording of this work is the natural horn playing on the Brandenburg #2. While it's a hair rough and decidedly masculine (the latter not being a bad thing), it's extremely powerful and expressive, and the player (Gabriele Cassone) understands how to make his instrument speak and dazzle, rather than just hammering out a technically perfect performance, which is all that most natural horn players can hope for.

It's rare that I don't have a complaint about a recording, but this is that exception. I recommend this piece heartily and unqualifiedly.

Not the Best Brandenberg.......2005-03-07

Save your money. Il Giardino breaks no new ground here and instead gives a rushed performance more reminiscent of something from a provincial opera company than an accomplished ensemble. The Corn is blares unexpectedly while the dynamics are all over the place. The audio quality may be good, but the music sounds so bad; especially the harpsichord which has an unpleasantly metallic timbre.

If you want a great new recording, get either the Tafelmusik recording under the direction of Jeanne Lamon (which has the best Concerto No. 5 around), or Jordi Savall's recording directing Le Concert des Nations/La Capella Real de Catalunya. Both of those recordings far outshine this one and make it sound like the work of amateurs.

I love to hate them.......2003-02-19

I own many disk of IGA including this, I've heard them in concert and even assist to a rehearsal. I would like to say that the way they make music doesn't have anything to do with authenticity. The strings players have a mostly modern tecnique, (most of them use chinrest and endpins). I would like to point out that the art from 1700 is not ugly as a whole or in its parts (look at paintings or architecture). Yes they do make ugly sounds and they do have very poor taste.

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Average customer rating:

One of the best recordings of Branderburg concertos
my copy was ok
Could be great.
Production Error
Try before you buy

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Johann Sebastian Bach , Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment , Paul Goodwin , Catherine Mackintosh , Rachel Beckett , Mark Bennett , Monica Huggett , Alison Bury , Marion Scott , Lisa Beznosiuk , Malcolm Proud , Elizabeth Wallfisch , Pavlo Beznosiuk , Richard Campbell , Sarah Cunningham , William Hunt , John Toll , Richard Tunnicliffe , Timothy Brown , and Susan Dent
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000J2PP
Release Date: 1999-06-08

Tracks:

Concerti No.1 in F Major: I. No Tempo Indication
Concerti No.1 in F Major: II. Adagio
Concerti No.1 in F Major: III. Allegro
Concerti No.1 in F Major: IV. Menueto - Trio I - Polacca - Trio II
Concerto No.2 In F Major: I. No Tempo Indicated
Concerto No.2 In F Major: II. Andante
Concerto No.2 In F Major: III. Allegro assai
Concerto No.3 In G Major: I. No Tempo Indicated
Concerto No.3 In G Major: II. Adagio - Allegro

Tracks:

Concerto No.4 In G Major: I. Allegro
Concerto No.4 In G Major: II. Andante
Concerto No.4 In G Major: III. Presto
Concerto No.5 in D major: I. Allegro
Concerto No.5 in D major: II. Affetuoso
Concerto No.5 In D Major: III. Allegro
Conceto No.6 In B-flat Major: I. No Tempo Indicated
Conceto No.6 In B-flat Major: II. Adagio na non tanto
Concerto No.6 In B-flat Major: III. Allegro

Amazon.com

The Brandenburg Concertos seem to be Bach's most popular works by far, and there are so many recordings of them out there--on period instruments and "modern," and at all price ranges. Of course, it's hard to pick out one or even two to call the "best"--but this reissue of a 1989 recording by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment has a good claim for the title of "Best Buy Brandenburgs." These performances don't have the splashy extroversion of Il Giardino Armonico or the caffeine-pumped, high-velocity thrill of Musica Antiqua Köln, but they're not overly reserved or dull, as some English ensembles are accused of being. The OAE's instrumental playing is very skillful indeed, with particularly nice work from the horns in the third movement of the First Concerto, and from trumpeter Mark Bennett in the Second; and the tempos are moderately quick (which means that they would have been considered rather fast before 1980 or so), but without being breathless. The slow movements sing sweetly--the viola playing of Monica Huggett and Pavlo Besnosiuk in the slow movement of the Sixth Concerto is especially lovely--and the quick outer movements have an infectiously bouncy pulse. If money is no object, you might want to consider Il Giardino Armonico or the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, but these here are surely the best Brandenburgs available at such a low price. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

One of the best recordings of Branderburg concertos.......2006-03-06

I own quite a few recordings of the Branderburg concertos (Suzuki, Saval, Boston Baroque...) this one is one of the best.

There is an evident feel of musical joy coming out of this recording. I can't find other ways to describe it.
The musicians are enthusiastic about the work they are playing, restrained most of the time but when it is called for they give their best.

Highly recommended.

my copy was ok.......2006-02-09

This is an excellent version of the Brandenbergs. The tempos are good and the instruments are all clearly heard. I noticed that some sort of production problem led to some poor reviews with the 2 CDs having the same music for some people. I did NOT have that problem and think this set can be highly recommended.

Could be great........2006-01-02

I got a gift certificate for Borders and I decided to get this as I have been wanting it despite reports of the same music being on both discs. I brought it out to the van and immediately played both CDs and they both were the exact same music. I return the disc at Borders before we left the parking lot. What little we played sounded so right. Brilliant energy and refinement. Excellent sound quality. If I knew I could get one that was manufactured correctly I would purchase it in a heart beat.

Very Dissapointing.

Production Error.......2005-12-08

I would like to confirm the problem reported by Mr. Whittet. I purchased the disks in November 2005 and found the same mistake that he did. Disk 1 has the same music as Disk 2.

In other ways this is a spectacular recording. The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment gives a graceful and articulate reading of the concertos, and the recorded sound is clear, warm, and spacious. But, despite the bargain price, it's not worth it just to get two copies of concertos 4-6.

Try before you buy.......2005-11-23

Watch out for a manufacturing error with this 2CD set. I found that the exact same music (Concertos 4-6) was recorded on each CD in the set (they are labelled CD1 and CD2 but both contain the music for CD2). I returned it, obtained a replacement, and the replacement has the exact same problem, so it is not an isolated event. I believe these performances would be excellent if I could only get to hear them all.

Average customer rating:

Impeccable yet Lusty Performances of the Beloved Brandenburg Concerti
Italianate Brandenburgs - and a bonus DVD

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos
Johann Sebastian Bach , Concerto Italiano , and Rinaldo Alessandrini
Manufacturer: Opus 111
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bach: The Art of Fugue; Keyboard Concertos
Vivaldi Edition: Le Quattro Stagioni (with bonus CD: Portrait)

ASIN: B000ALCFYI
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

(...)
Adagio
Allegro
Menuet
Trio A 2 Hautbois E Bassono. Corni E Vile Tacent
Menuet Repetat
Poloinesse. Tutti Violini E Viole Ma Piano. Violino Piccolo Tacet
Menuet Ab Inizio
Trio A 2 Corni & 3 Hautbois In Unissono
Menuet (...) Ab Inizio/Avec Grande Reprise
(...)
Andante
Allegro Assai
(...)
Adagio. Allegro
Sinfonia

Tracks:

Allegro
Andante
Presto
Allegro
Affettuoso
Allegro
Cadenza (First Version; 1st Movement: Bars 147-180)
(...)
Adagio, Ma Non Tanto
Allegro

Amazon.com

If you're familiar with Alessandrini and his sparkling period instrument ensemble you expect interpretations featuring rhythmic drive, colorful playing, and original insights. Those characteristics are what help make this version of Bach's perennial and oft-recorded Brandenburg Concertos so compelling. Tempos are generally on the fast side, but never overly swift, while slow movements have just the right touch of soulfulness. Virtually without exception, the solo bits are done with imaginative, fluent expertise, and Gabriele Cassone's rendition of the famous trumpet part of the Second Brandenburg provides musical thrills, as well as virtuoso ones. Alessandrini himself takes us on a wild ride through the Fifth Concerto's brilliant harpsichord cadenza. In addition to the complete Brandenburgs, this set includes another, earlier version of the Fifth's harpsichord solo, a cantata Sinfonia drawn from the Third's opening movement, and a 43' DVD film featuring scenes from the recording sessions and an interview with Alessandrini about Bach. Add Naïve's superb sonics and this set zooms into the preferred handful of Brandenburg Concerto recordings. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Impeccable yet Lusty Performances of the Beloved Brandenburg Concerti.......2006-02-04

Rinaldo Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano offer one of the most exhilarating performances of the much recorded and much performed Bach Brandenburg Concerti in the available repertoire today. The zest, warmth and easy tenderness these works convey has rarely sounded so fresh and well played. Each of the 'solo instruments' are superb and the recorded sound is so clear that it begs credibility that the listener is not in the hall with the Concerto Italiano.

While there are numerous recordings, both in the archives and in the seemingly yearly new releases, this 2 CD set is, for this listener, the most rewarding. And for those who like to get the feel of the backstage machinations of just how music flows from the page to the CD there is a DVD that is interesting to see once, but in no way is it as important an incentive to buying this set as the performances themselves. Highly Recommended - even it you have multiple other recordings of this timelessly delightful music. Grady Harp, February 06

Italianate Brandenburgs - and a bonus DVD.......2005-11-10

The first thing one notices with this set is the cover illustration, a photo of a magnificent fourteen-point stag looking out a window while walking in what looks like a deserted multistory concrete parking garage. I have no idea how it is supposed to relate to the music but it certainly is a striking image.

The next thing one notices, and this is more important, is that the musicians -- one to a part in the ripieno group -- are swinging the music in a loose and somehow very Italianate manner. This is fitting, of course, considering that the concerto grosso was invented in Italy by the likes of Corelli and Vivaldi, whose music Bach knew (and copied) very well. One tends to think of the Brandenburgs as very German, but indeed they have more than a little Italian influence in addition to their Teutonic contrapuntal mastery. And all these performances are first-rate. There are jillions of recordings of the Brandenburgs, many of them excellent, but Rinaldo Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano have something rather new to say about them in that they bring that Italian joie de vivre to their traversal. The woodwinds are fruity and a little raw, the strings have suavity and lively phrasing. Of course, the six Brandenburgs feature all manner of solo instruments and there is not a weak soloist amongst them. I particularly liked the sound of the two recorders (designated 'fiauti d'echo' in the Italian headnote) in Concerto No. 4; they are complemented by the wonderful solo violinist, Antonio de Secondi, in that concerto. I also liked the corni di caccia in Concerto No. 1, and the marvelous harpsichord solos, done by Alessandrini (a real virtuoso) in the grandfather of all keyboard concerti, the Concerto No. 5. The dark mahogany tone of the violin-less No. 6 is impressive. The virtuosity of the trumpet soloist in No. 2 (Gabriele Cassone) takes one's breath away with its élan and brilliance. All in all these are marvelous performances worthy of shelf space with all those other terrific Brandenburgs; my own favorites include the Trevor Pinnock/English Concerto, the second set by Harnoncourt/Concentus Musicus, and Jeanne Lamon/Tafelmusik.

There is a bonus DVD (making three discs in all - 2 CDs, 1 DVD), filmed by Philippe Béziat, that shows Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano rehearsing (and featuring long uninterrupted chunks of the music) as well as a lengthy conversation with Alessandrini concerning his thoughts on the Brandenburgs: a worthy addition and quite informative, as are Alessandrini's extensive notes in the booklet.

This set deserves a place in anyone's library.

Scott Morrison

Average customer rating:

Mostly Magnificent Menuhin, with a Few Reservations

The Violinist
Yehudi Menuhin , Johann Sebastian Bach , Bela Bartok , Ludwig van Beethoven , Alban Berg , Johannes Brahms , Max Bruch , Arcangelo Corelli , Edward Elgar , Franz Joseph Haydn , Edouard Lalo , Felix Mendelssohn , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Carl Nielsen , Niccolo Paganini , Camille Saint-Saens , Jean Sibelius , Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Michael Tippett , Henri Vieuxtemps , Antonio Vivaldi , William Walton , Alberto Lysy , Anatole Fistoulari , Antal Dorati , Anthony Bernard , Gaston Poulet , John Pitchard , Mogens Woldike , Pierre Boulez , and Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000BWTKJ
Release Date: 2003-11-04

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Affettuoso
III. Allegro
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegro Assai
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro Assai
I. Vivace
II. Largo Ma Non Tanto
III. Allegro

Tracks:

Rhapsody No. 2 (Lassu [Moderato] - Friss [Allegro Moderato])
I. Allegro Non Troppo
II. Andante Tranquillo
III. Allegro Molto
I. Andante
I. Allegretto (Scherzando)
II. Allegro
II. Adagio

Tracks:

Romance No. 1 In G Major
I. Allegro Ma Non Troppo (Cadenza: Kreisler)
II. Larghetto
III. Rondo (Allegro) (Cadenza: Kreisler)
I. Allegro Moderato
II. Adagio
III. Finale (Allegro Energico)

Tracks:

Romance No. 2 In F Major, Op. 50
I. Allegro Non Troppo (Cadenza: Kreisler)
II. Adagio
III. Allegro Giocoso, Ma Non Troppo Vivace - Poco Piu Presto
I. Allegro Molto Appassionato
II. Andante
III. Allegretto Non Troppo - Allegro Molto Vivace

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegro Molto
I. Andante Tranquillo
II. Presto Capriccioso Alla Napolitana & Trio (Canzonetta)
III. Vivace

Tracks:

I. Allegro Moderato (Cadenza: Menuhin)
II. Adagio Molto
III. Finale (Presto) (Cadenza: Menuhin)
I. Allegro
II. Andante Cantabile
III. Rondo (Andante Grazioso - Allegro Ma Non Troppo)
I. Allegro Maestoso
II. Andante
III. Presto

Tracks:

I. Allegro Non Troppo
II. Scherzando (Allegro Molto)
III. Intermezzo (Allegretto Non Troppo)
IV. Andante
V. Rondo (Allegro)
I. Allegro Non Troppo
II. Andantino Quasi Allegretto
III. Molto Moderato E Maestoso - Allegro Non Troppo
Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28
Havanaise, Op. 83

Tracks:

I. Allegro Maestoso (Cadenza: Emile Sauret)
II. Adagio Espressivo
III. Rondo (Allegro Spiritoso)
I. Andante - Moderato - Cadenza
II. Adagio Religioso
III. Scherzo (Vivace) & Trio
IV. Finale (Allegro)
I. Allegro Non Troppo
II. Cadenza
III. Adagio
IV. Allegro Con Fuoco

Tracks:

Serenade Melancolique
I. Allegro Moderato
II. Adagio Di Molto
III. Allegro Ma Non Tanto
I. Praeludium (Largo)
I. Allegro Cavalleresco
II. Intermezzo (Poco Adagio)
II. Rondo (Allegretto Scherzando)

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Largo
III. Allegro
I. Allegro Non Molto
II. Adagio
III. Presto
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro
I. Allegro Non Molto
II. Largo
III. Allegro
I. Vivace - Allegro - Adagio - Vivace - Allegro - Largo Andante
II. Allegro
III. Grave - Andante Largo - Allegro
Fantasia Concertante On A Theme Of Corelli

Customer Reviews:

Mostly Magnificent Menuhin, with a Few Reservations.......2004-01-06

The recent trend toward classical box sets focusing on the performer instead of the composer (see my reviews of the various DG/Decca "Original Masters" sets) continues with EMI's new "Yehudi Menuhin - The Violinist." Sure EMI's past sets have showcased individual performances by Samson Francois, Eugen Jochum and Rudolf Kempe to name a few, but it was always under the heading of a given composer's works, and in the cases mentioned above, to Chopin's piano pieces, Bruckner's Symphonies and Strauss' Orchestral Works respectively. Therefore, this Menuhin collection is the first of EMI's "Budget Box Sets" to showcase a performer playing the works of a variety of composers.

As Menuhin was an EMI recording artist for an incredible 68 years (1931-99), his performances for the label number in the hundreds. With so much music from which to choose, this 10-disc set aims "to highlight some of those alternative versions, including recordings that have not been easily available since the days of LP and others that have never previously appeared on CD." Therefore, the obvious mainstream, easily attainable recordings are omitted here -- for example, the Beethoven/Mendelssohn VCs with Furtwangler, the Elgar VC with the composer conducting, and the Bruch/Mendelssohn VCs with Susskind and Kurtz.

However, a lot of this material has been on disc before on titles which the serious collector most likely already owns. Most of the Bach is currently available as part of the Bach "Budget Box Series" title. The Bruch, Mendelssohn, Brahms and Vivaldi VCs were all available in the now out-of-print 2CD EMI Seraphim series. The Elgar and the Walton are still available in the "British Composers" series. And perhaps most annoyingly, the previously unpublished Beethoven VC and Tchaikovsky "Serenade melancolique" (available as a single disc), and the Beethoven Romance No. 2 (available on an EMI Encore title) were both reissued just a few months back.

But let's focus on the positive, which are the other rare performances, the most significant being the never before reissued 1954 performance of Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4 with John Pritchard and the Philharmonia. Other elusive recordings include Viuextemps and Paganini VCs with Fistoulari, Lalo and Saint-Saens works with Goossens, and excellent Berg and Bartok accounts with Boulez. Though I'm delighted at their inclusion, of lesser importance is a 1965 Bartok VC No. 2 with Dorati -- his mono EMI with Furtwangler and an earlier account with Dorati on Mercury Living Presence are far superior. Also, neither the Sibelius (Boult, 1955) nor Nielsen (Woldike, 1952) Concertos are truly Menuhin's cups of tea.

My last complaint has to do with the packaging. I know I'm being rather trite but it seems that EMI has taken the "slim" out of slim, paper-sleeved box sets with their latest batch of releases. Both this title and the new box of Liszt Orchestral Works by Masur are noticeably thicker than previous EMI sets featuring a similar number of discs. A minor point, but us serious classical collectors need every centimeter of space on our increasingly crowded CD shelves, not to mention the amount of wasted packaging.

Overall though, despite the fact that "Yehudi Menuhin - The Violinist" is not as essential a reissue as its counterparts in the "Original Masters" series, it is a delightful set that most collectors will thoroughly enjoy.

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Britten, ECO

Average customer rating:

Bach for Aristocrats
ladida, ladida
Authentic - In The Sense of True Authenticity
Excellent Bach
Good modern recording

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Britten, ECO
Johann Sebastian Bach , Benjamin Britten , English Chamber Orchestra , Neville Marriner , Ifor James , Peter Graeme , Anthony Randall , Richard Adeney , David Mason , Philip Ledger , Norman Knight , Christopher Hogwood , Carmel Kaine , Nicholas Kraemer , Tess Miller , William Bennett , and Emanuel Hurwitz
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000425M
Release Date: 1995-05-16

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: ll Adagio
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: lll Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: lV Menuetto: Trio l
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: V Polacca: Trio ll
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 In F Major, BWV 1047: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 In F Major, BWV 1047: ll Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 In F Major, BWV 1047: lll Allegro assai
Brandenburg Concerto No.3 In G Major, BWV 1048: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.3 In G Major, BWV 1048: ll Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Major, BWV 1049: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Major, BWV 1049: ll Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Major, BWV 1049: lll Presto

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major, BWV 1050: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major, BWV 1050: ll Affettuoso
Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major, BWV 1050: lll Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: ll Adagio ma non Troppo
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: lll Allegro
Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D Minor (from BWV 1060): l Allegro
Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D Minor (from BWV 1060): ll Adagio
Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D Minor (from BWV 1060): lll Allegro
Concerto For flute And Strings In G Minor (From BWV 1056): l Allegro
Concerto For flute And Strings In G Minor (From BWV 1056): ll Largo
Concerto For flute And Strings In G Minor (From BWV 1056): lll Presto

Amazon.com

Benjamin Britten's Bach is a "middle-of-the-road" version of these delightful works. They offer no startling departures from the Baroque style favored in the 1960s, but are ripe, polished performances with a fearless trumpet soloist in No. 2, and outstanding flute and violin solos throughout. Modern instruments and moderate tempos may seem stodgy these days, but there's integrity in Britten's music-making and this set, recorded in 1968, still sounds fresh, easily holding its own against more recent versions. As an added attraction, London includes concerti for violin and oboe, and flute and strings, both done in the 1970s with Neville Marriner leading light and springy readings of distinction. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Bach for Aristocrats.......2007-07-08

Britten's Brandenburgs are not hell-bent for leather, nor "historically informed", but very well-played in a grand and stately manner suggestive of a great composer respectfully conducting the work of another from a different era. The remastered analog recording from 1969 is excellent with a warm bloom surrounding the intimate soundscape.

I play these for a change-up on music that can become overly familiar, but that almost no one doesn't like at least once in a while.

ladida, ladida.......2007-03-09

Why is it that French horns can never play in tune with each other or the rest of the orchestra? Why, Why, Why!? If not for the french horns, this would be a very nice recording. These concertos are much cooler with the original instumentation, tho.

Authentic - In The Sense of True Authenticity.......2005-03-28

I am often bothered by those that think baroque music must be played on period instruments, and likewise by those that choose Mozart and Beethoven to be played in "authentic" means as well. Yes, the time period instruments do provide a different sound, but isn't music about the life that comes from the music, not the means of making the music? Music moves us not because we hear a strad or period orchestra wonderfully vibrating, but because we connect with the lines and melody of the sound being produced. These performances tastefully render the Brandenburg Concertos. They might not be sprightly, hold down Bach's instructions to a tee, or be played on period instruments, but they do convey Bach's written notes with wit and integrity, and with Bach especially, that's really all that is necessary for a moving performance. Let the music speak for itself, and stand alone - and in my opinion, that's all that is necessary here to create a wonderful effect.

Excellent Bach.......2004-07-02

Benjamin Britten and the English Chamber Orchestra do an excellent job of bringing out the "baroqueness" or the brandenburg concertos. I especially enjoyed the 6th concerto (what viola player wouldn't?), but I thought the 1st movement was a little slow, and a bit too legatoish, but i loved it none the less. The 3rd con. was also nice (3 viola parts- yeah!). I also liked the bonus flute and violin/oboe concertos. The flute concerto (origianally a harpsichord concerto and then a violin concerto) does have some shloops in the 1st and 3rd movements, in which case i prefer it being preformed on violin.

Overall, an outstanding recording that i highly recommend!!!!!!

Good modern recording.......2004-06-14

Some would say this recording isn't authentic because it uses modern instruments rather than period instruments. However, the English Chamber Orchestra is a wonderful ensemble, and Britten shows a real understanding for Bach's music. They create a very good Baroque sound with their modern instruments.

There are some movements (mvt 1 of concerto 1, mvt 2 of concerto 3, for example) that sound a bit heavy, either because of tempo or the intrumentation. They don't have the light, lively sound I think Bach intended.

Though there are better recordings of the Brandenburgs, this is an excellent collection for someone who wants to save a little money.

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Lamon, Tafelmusik
Average customer rating:

One of the best Brandenburg Concerto recordings made!

brings them freshly to life

Strong Yet Diginified Interpretation of Great, Diverse Composition

An outstanding (albeit expensive) recording!

This is a historically and musically intriguing set

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Lamon, Tafelmusik
Johann Sebastian Bach , Jeanne Lamon , Tafelmusik , Thomas Georgi , Rona Goldensher , David Greenberg , Sergei Istomin , Ab Koster , John Abberger , Alison Mackay , Christina Mahler , Kevin Mallon , Washington McClain , Linda Melsted , Charlotte Nediger , Stephen Marvin , Susan Napper , Alison Melville , and Derek Conrod
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002AQ4
Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

Concerto No. 1 In F Major, BWV 1046: I. (-)
Concerto No. 1 In F Major, BWV 1046: II. Adagio
Concerto No. 1 In F Major, BWV 1046: III. Allegro
Concerto No. 1 In F Major, BWV 1046: IV. Menuetto - Trio - Polonaise - Trio
Concerto No. 2 In F Major, BWV 1047: I. (-)
Concerto No. 2 In F Major, BWV 1047: II. Andante
Concerto No. 2 In F Major, BWV 1047: III. Allegro assai
Concerto No. 3 In G Major, BWV 1048: I. (-)
Concerto No. 3 In G Major, BWV 1048: II. Allegro

Tracks:

Concerto No. 4 In G Major, BWV 1049: I. Allegro
Concerto No. 4 In G Major, BWV 1049: II. Andante
Concerto No. 4 In G Major, BWV 1049: III. Pesto
Concerto No. 5 In D Major, BWV 1050: I. Allegro
Concerto No. 5 In D Major, BWV 1050: II. Affettuoso
Concerto No. 5 In D Major, BWV 1050: III. Allegro
Concerto No. 6 In B-Flat Major, BWV 1051: I. (-)
Concerto No. 6 In B-Flat Major, BWV 1051: II. Adagio ma non troppo
Concerto No. 6 In B-Flat Major, BWV 1051: III. Allegro

Amazon.com

Canadian-based Tafelmusik and leader Jeanne Lamon recorded the Brandenburg Concertos in 1993 and came away with one of the best offerings of the set on disc, with help from some pretty outstanding European ringers. Lucid and refreshingly pure, like water drawn from a cool, clear stream, these accounts are notable for the consistently clean textures and solid bass lines, for the way melodic lines and voice leading are clearly delineated, and for the manner in which the solo instruments emerge from the tutti with just the right amount of presence. With excellent sound, these are well-nigh ideal realizations. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

One of the best Brandenburg Concerto recordings made!.......2007-01-19

I bought this music for my husband for Christmas. He has been wanting this particular recording for quite some time. He really likes that the music is played with period instruments. He thinks it's the best recording of the Brandenburg concertos he has heard. The sound is really great. Even our young children enjoy listening to it. It's a great collection of music to have in your home.

brings them freshly to life.......2005-12-20

These performances are incredible! Lamon and Tafelmusik make the concertos come to sparkling life without inadvertently reinventing them as rock n roll (which is what some other recent recordings of Bach and Vivaldi seem to do for the sake of "originality".) The recording is also excellent, holding up very well (for 16 bit cd) to close listening on audiophile gear. They deserve to be remastered with todays technology on say, a hybrid cd/sacd release; as the sonic improvements over the last few years are significant. HINT, HINT...

Strong Yet Diginified Interpretation of Great, Diverse Composition.......2005-12-07

Bach certainly displays not only his pre-"Well Tempered Clavier" expertise here, but showcases such instrumental diversity among the soloists.

Lamon and Tafelmusik admirably and tastefully provide us with the works in a modest set (only $16 per disk, certainly not excessive) but well recorded, expertly performed on period instruments with an orchestra known for its baroque interpretations.

The overal tempo is sensible and allow subtleties of the work to shine, especially the 2nd, and 5th. Recorder, oboe and trumpet on 2nd are clear and resiliant, as well as wonderful harpsichord work on 5th, which would have charmed the master being innovative thrust of keyboard as virtuoso.

Well worth consideration as selection of this infamous work.

An outstanding (albeit expensive) recording!.......2002-02-14

My first exposure to the Brandenburg Concertos was in college, when I heard Christopher Hogwood's interpretation of Bach's most famous concertos (1983 release, still in print). I had heard other versions since that time, but Hogwood's has always remained my favorite . . . until Sony released this 2-disc set featuring the Canadian ensemble Tafelmusik under the direction of Jeanne Lamon.

Simpy put, these two discs are great. Tafelmusik's performance is impeccable, fluid, and always graceful. I still enjoy Hogwood's version (even though the microphones tended to pick up the strings rattling on certain instruments throughout the entire recording). But there are no such distractions on the Sony release. The sound quality, like Tafelmusik's performance, is great. Overall, as much as I still like Hogwood's recording, I believe this lastest Sony version is better.

As good as this set is, it's still pretty expensive (even for a 2-disc DDD set). Since this is probably Bach's most popular set of concertos, they've been recorded countless times. There must be at lest 15 ADD/DDD versions still in print, each one with its own group of supporters and detractors. I'm only familiar with the two under discussion here, so you'll need to refer to critiques or word-of-mouth to determine which ones match (or come close to matching) this particular Sony release.

Overall, this recording is a true gem. I was fortunate enough to come across it used, and immediately snapped it up. So if you don't mind paying full price for some wonderful music, go ahead and purchase this set. But keep in mind that there are also a number of different versions still in print, and at half the price they're worth considering as well.

This is a historically and musically intriguing set.......2001-06-01

Since many parts of the Brandenburg concertos(BWV 1046-51) have long been an enigma to Bach historians, it has, in the modern day, become increasingly difficult to accurately label any one recording or interpretation of these works as "Historically accurate". However, of all the recent recordings(of which there have been quite a few), I believe that this set is perhaps closest to being able to make the claim. Impressive enough is the fact that the recording is done completely on historically modeled instruments(avoiding all of their intonational and technical pitfalls), but perhaps even more jaw-dropping is the amount of historical and musical detail that is evident throughout the recording.

Tafelmusik, while composed mostly lesser-known, but phenominally virtuoistic performers, is definately no slouch, and it's obvious that every one of them has a profound understanding of how Bach's music would have been performed in it's time. Fine details, like improvised cadenzas(the interlude of #3, for instance) and well thought out continuo/harpsichord improvisation, shine out at listeners who search for them.

Perhaps more important to the average listener, however, is the fact that the music, while being "historically accurate", is also musically enthralling. Unlike many versions that I have heard(such as M. Andre's adaption of concerto #2 for picc. trumpet), the secondary voices are not made into second-rate citizens, and are allowed to shine out and bring out perhaps unbefore heard lines that are both beautiful and intriguing. This version of the concerto #2(my personal favorite), for instance, does not simply show off the trumpet players virtuosity; instead it is an aural game of tag, the lines passing off from instrument to instrument, bringing forth a complexity that is truly breathtaking to hear.

This combination of historical detail and profoundly beautiful interpretation and musicianship makes this, in my opinion, one of the most deep and impressive Brandenburg sets available. It is listenable to on many levels, as it is not so profound as to be enjoyable by the general public, nor is it over-simplified, like so many interpretations of Bach's works we see today. This is a collection piece, for both the avid Bach fan and the casual music enthusiast.

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