Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 4-6

On this CD:

1. Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Slovak Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by Bohdan Warchal

2. Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Slovak Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by Bohdan Warchal

3. Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat major, BWV 1051
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Slovak Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by Bohdan Warchal

4. Suite for orchestra No 3 in D major, BWV 1068 No. 2, Air
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by Bernhard Guller

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 4-6, Music, Johann Sebastian Bach, Bernhard Guller, Bohdan Warchal, Slovak Chamber Orchestra, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Baroque Suite/Partita for Orchestra, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Concerto, Concerto Grosso, Orchestral
Bach - The Complete Brandenburg Concertos / Pearlman, Boston Baroque
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • 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

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Similar Items:
  1. Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
  2. Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 1
  3. Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 2
  4. Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 35-41
  5. Beethoven: 9 Symphonies

ASIN: B000003D1F
Release Date: 1996-07-23

Tracks:

  1. I. (Allegro)
  2. II. Adagio
  3. III. Allegro
  4. IV. Menuetto; Trio; Polonaise; Trio
  5. I. (Allegro)
  6. II. Andante
  7. III. Allegro Assai
  8. I. (Allegro)
  9. II. Adagio
  10. III. Allegro

Tracks:

  1. I. Allegro
  2. II. Andante
  3. III. Presto
  4. I. Allegro
  5. II. Affettuoso
  6. III. Allegro
  7. I. (Allegro)
  8. II. Adagio Ma Non Tanto
  9. 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:

5 out of 5 stars 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.

4 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.....

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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: 5 out of 5 stars
  • 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

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  5. Complete Mozart Symphonies / Pinnock, English Concert

ASIN: B0000057D8
Release Date: 1989-05-09

Tracks:

  1. Concerto No.1 BWV 1046: ohne Satzbezeichnung
  2. Concerto No.1 BWV 1046: Adagio
  3. Concerto No.1 BWV 1046: Allegro
  4. Concerto No.1 BWV 1046: Menuetto - Trio 1 - Polacca - Trio 2
  5. Concert No.2 BWV 1047: ohne Satzbezeichnung
  6. Concert No.2 BWV 1047: Andante
  7. Concert No.2 BWV 1047: Allegro assai
  8. Concerto No.3 BWV 1048: ohne Satzbezeichnung
  9. Concerto No.3 BWV 1048: Adagio
  10. Concerto No.3 BWV 1048: Allegro
  11. Concerto No.4 BWV 1049: Allegro
  12. Concerto No.4 BWV 1049: Andante
  13. Concerto No.4 BWV 1049: Presto

Tracks:

  1. Concerto No.5 BWV 1050: Allegro
  2. Concerto No.5 BWV 1050: Affettuoso
  3. Concerto No.5 BWV 1050: Allegro
  4. Concerto No.6 BWV 1051: ohne Satzbezeichnung
  5. Concerto No.6 BWV 1051: Adagio ma non tanto
  6. Concerto No.6 BWV 1051: Allegro
  7. Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Ouverture
  8. Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Courante
  9. Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Gavotte 1-2
  10. Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Forlane
  11. Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Menuet 1-2
  12. Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Bourree 1-2
  13. Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Passepied 1-2

Tracks:

  1. Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Ouverture
  2. Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Rondeau
  3. Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Sarabande
  4. Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Bourree 1-2
  5. Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Polonaise
  6. Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Menuet
  7. Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Badinerie
  8. Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Ouverture
  9. Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Air
  10. Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Gavotte 1-2
  11. Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Bourree
  12. Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Gigue
  13. Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Ouverture
  14. Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Bourree 1-2
  15. Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Gavotte
  16. Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Menuet 1-2
  17. Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Rejouissance

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos (Complete)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • 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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GeneralGeneral | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
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ViolinViolin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
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  5. Bach - The Complete Brandenburg Concertos / Pearlman, Boston Baroque

ASIN: B000004164
Release Date: 1993-08-10

Tracks:

  1. Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F, BWV 1046: Allegro
  2. Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F, BWV 1046: Adagio
  3. Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F, BWV 1046: Allegro
  4. Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F, BWV 1046: Menuetto Polacca
  5. Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F, BWV 1047: Allegro
  6. Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F, BWV 1047: Andante
  7. Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F, BWV 1047: Allegro assai
  8. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G, BWV 1048: Allegro
  9. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G, BWV 1048: Andante
  10. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G, BWV 1048: Allegro
  11. Violin Concerto In E, BWV 1042: Allegro
  12. Violin Concerto In E, BWV 1042: Adagio
  13. Violin Concerto In E, BWV 1042: Allegro assai

Tracks:

  1. Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, BWV 1049: Allegro
  2. Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, BWV 1049: Andante
  3. Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, BWV 1049: Presto
  4. Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV 1050: Allegro
  5. Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV 1050: Affetuoso
  6. Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV 1050: Allegro
  7. Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat, BWV 1051: Allegro
  8. Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat, BWV 1051: Adagio ma non tanto
  9. Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat, BWV 1051: Allegro
  10. Violin Concerto In A Minor, BWV 1041: Allegro
  11. Violin Concerto In A Minor, BWV 1041: Andante
  12. Violin Concerto In A Minor, BWV 1041: Allegro assai

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

4 out of 5 stars 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: 4 out of 5 stars
  • 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

All Works by J.S. BachAll Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Concerto GrossiConcerto Grossi | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Il Giardino ArmonicoIl Giardino Armonico | ( I ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000000SRC
Release Date: 1997-09-16

Tracks:

  1. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. I In F Major: Allegro
  2. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. I In F Major: Adagio
  3. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. I In F Major: Allegro
  4. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. I In F Major: Menuetto
  5. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. II In F Major: Allegro
  6. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. II In F Major: Andante
  7. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. II In F Major: Allegro Assai
  8. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. III In G Major: Allegro
  9. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. III In G Major: Adagio
  10. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. III In G Major: Allegro

Tracks:

  1. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. IV In G Major: Allegro
  2. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. IV In G Major: Adante
  3. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. IV In G Major: Presto
  4. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. V In D Major: Allegro
  5. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. V In D Major: Affettuoso
  6. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. V In D Major: Allegro
  7. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. VI In B Major: Allegro
  8. Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. VI In B Major: Adagio ma non tanto
  9. 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:

5 out of 5 stars 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!!

5 out of 5 stars 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.



5 out of 5 stars 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.

2 out of 5 stars 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.

2 out of 5 stars 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
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • 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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Similar Items:
  1. Schubert: String Quartets Nos. 13 & 14
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  3. Gramophone Classical Good CD, DVD & Download Guide 2007 (Classical Good CD, DVD, & Download Guide) (Classical Good CD, DVD, & Download Guide)
  4. Bach: The Art of Fugue; Keyboard Concertos
  5. Vivaldi Edition: Le Quattro Stagioni (with bonus CD: Portrait)

ASIN: B000ALCFYI
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

  1. (...)
  2. Adagio
  3. Allegro
  4. Menuet
  5. Trio A 2 Hautbois E Bassono. Corni E Vile Tacent
  6. Menuet Repetat
  7. Poloinesse. Tutti Violini E Viole Ma Piano. Violino Piccolo Tacet
  8. Menuet Ab Inizio
  9. Trio A 2 Corni & 3 Hautbois In Unissono
  10. Menuet (...) Ab Inizio/Avec Grande Reprise
  11. (...)
  12. Andante
  13. Allegro Assai
  14. (...)
  15. Adagio. Allegro
  16. Sinfonia

Tracks:

  1. Allegro
  2. Andante
  3. Presto
  4. Allegro
  5. Affettuoso
  6. Allegro
  7. Cadenza (First Version; 1st Movement: Bars 147-180)
  8. (...)
  9. Adagio, Ma Non Tanto
  10. 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:

5 out of 5 stars 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

5 out of 5 stars 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
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • 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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  5. Haydn: Lord Nelson Mass / Willcocks, King's College Choir

ASIN: B00000J2PP
Release Date: 1999-06-08

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

  1. Concerto No.4 In G Major: I. Allegro
  2. Concerto No.4 In G Major: II. Andante
  3. Concerto No.4 In G Major: III. Presto
  4. Concerto No.5 in D major: I. Allegro
  5. Concerto No.5 in D major: II. Affetuoso
  6. Concerto No.5 In D Major: III. Allegro
  7. Conceto No.6 In B-flat Major: I. No Tempo Indicated
  8. Conceto No.6 In B-flat Major: II. Adagio na non tanto
  9. 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:

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

3 out of 5 stars 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.

2 out of 5 stars 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.

3 out of 5 stars 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.
The Violinist
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • 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

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  5. Heifetz Showpieces

ASIN: B0000BWTKJ
Release Date: 2003-11-04

Tracks:

  1. I. Allegro
  2. II. Affettuoso
  3. III. Allegro
  4. I. Allegro
  5. II. Andante
  6. III. Allegro Assai
  7. I. Allegro
  8. II. Adagio
  9. III. Allegro Assai
  10. I. Vivace
  11. II. Largo Ma Non Tanto
  12. III. Allegro

Tracks:

  1. Rhapsody No. 2 (Lassu [Moderato] - Friss [Allegro Moderato])
  2. I. Allegro Non Troppo
  3. II. Andante Tranquillo
  4. III. Allegro Molto
  5. I. Andante
  6. I. Allegretto (Scherzando)
  7. II. Allegro
  8. II. Adagio

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

  1. I. Allegro
  2. II. Andante
  3. III. Allegro Molto
  4. I. Andante Tranquillo
  5. II. Presto Capriccioso Alla Napolitana & Trio (Canzonetta)
  6. III. Vivace

Tracks:

  1. I. Allegro Moderato (Cadenza: Menuhin)
  2. II. Adagio Molto
  3. III. Finale (Presto) (Cadenza: Menuhin)
  4. I. Allegro
  5. II. Andante Cantabile
  6. III. Rondo (Andante Grazioso - Allegro Ma Non Troppo)
  7. I. Allegro Maestoso
  8. II. Andante
  9. III. Presto

Tracks:

  1. I. Allegro Non Troppo
  2. II. Scherzando (Allegro Molto)
  3. III. Intermezzo (Allegretto Non Troppo)
  4. IV. Andante
  5. V. Rondo (Allegro)
  6. I. Allegro Non Troppo
  7. II. Andantino Quasi Allegretto
  8. III. Molto Moderato E Maestoso - Allegro Non Troppo
  9. Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28
  10. Havanaise, Op. 83

Tracks:

  1. I. Allegro Maestoso (Cadenza: Emile Sauret)
  2. II. Adagio Espressivo
  3. III. Rondo (Allegro Spiritoso)
  4. I. Andante - Moderato - Cadenza
  5. II. Adagio Religioso
  6. III. Scherzo (Vivace) & Trio
  7. IV. Finale (Allegro)
  8. I. Allegro Non Troppo
  9. II. Cadenza
  10. III. Adagio
  11. IV. Allegro Con Fuoco

Tracks:

  1. Serenade Melancolique
  2. I. Allegro Moderato
  3. II. Adagio Di Molto
  4. III. Allegro Ma Non Tanto
  5. I. Praeludium (Largo)
  6. I. Allegro Cavalleresco
  7. II. Intermezzo (Poco Adagio)
  8. II. Rondo (Allegretto Scherzando)

Tracks:

  1. I. Allegro
  2. II. Largo
  3. III. Allegro
  4. I. Allegro Non Molto
  5. II. Adagio
  6. III. Presto
  7. I. Allegro
  8. II. Adagio
  9. III. Allegro
  10. I. Allegro Non Molto
  11. II. Largo
  12. III. Allegro
  13. I. Vivace - Allegro - Adagio - Vivace - Allegro - Largo Andante
  14. II. Allegro
  15. III. Grave - Andante Largo - Allegro
  16. Fantasia Concertante On A Theme Of Corelli

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars 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: 4 out of 5 stars
  • 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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  5. Bach: Concertos

ASIN: B00000425M
Release Date: 1995-05-16

Tracks:

  1. Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: l Allegro
  2. Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: ll Adagio
  3. Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: lll Allegro
  4. Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: lV Menuetto: Trio l
  5. Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: V Polacca: Trio ll
  6. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 In F Major, BWV 1047: l Allegro
  7. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 In F Major, BWV 1047: ll Andante
  8. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 In F Major, BWV 1047: lll Allegro assai
  9. Brandenburg Concerto No.3 In G Major, BWV 1048: l Allegro
  10. Brandenburg Concerto No.3 In G Major, BWV 1048: ll Allegro
  11. Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Major, BWV 1049: l Allegro
  12. Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Major, BWV 1049: ll Andante
  13. Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Major, BWV 1049: lll Presto

Tracks:

  1. Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major, BWV 1050: l Allegro
  2. Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major, BWV 1050: ll Affettuoso
  3. Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major, BWV 1050: lll Allegro
  4. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: l Allegro
  5. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: ll Adagio ma non Troppo
  6. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: lll Allegro
  7. Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D Minor (from BWV 1060): l Allegro
  8. Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D Minor (from BWV 1060): ll Adagio
  9. Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D Minor (from BWV 1060): lll Allegro
  10. Concerto For flute And Strings In G Minor (From BWV 1056): l Allegro
  11. Concerto For flute And Strings In G Minor (From BWV 1056): ll Largo
  12. 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:

4 out of 5 stars 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.

3 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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!!!!!!

4 out of 5 stars 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: 5 out of 5 stars
  • 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:

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

Tracks:

  1. Concerto No. 4 In G Major, BWV 1049: I. Allegro
  2. Concerto No. 4 In G Major, BWV 1049: II. Andante
  3. Concerto No. 4 In G Major, BWV 1049: III. Pesto
  4. Concerto No. 5 In D Major, BWV 1050: I. Allegro
  5. Concerto No. 5 In D Major, BWV 1050: II. Affettuoso
  6. Concerto No. 5 In D Major, BWV 1050: III. Allegro
  7. Concerto No. 6 In B-Flat Major, BWV 1051: I. (-)
  8. Concerto No. 6 In B-Flat Major, BWV 1051: II. Adagio ma non troppo
  9. 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:

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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...

5 out of 5 stars 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.

4 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • "Blach"....!
  • A powerful testament against the period instrument fashion
  • Overall not a bad effort, but ponderous
  • Not too bad, but could be better.
  • Surprisingly satisfying!
 Bach: Brandenburg Concertos

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001GXX
Release Date: 1997-07-15

Tracks:

  1. Concerto #1 in F Major (Allegro)
  2. Concerto #1 in F Major Adagio
  3. Concerto #1 in F Major Allegro
  4. Concerto #1 in F Major Menuetto
  5. Concerto #3 in G Major (Allegro)
  6. Concerto #3 in G Major Adagio
  7. Concerto #3 in G Major Allegro
  8. Concerto #4 in G Major Allegro
  9. Concerto #4 in G Major Andante
  10. Concerto #4 in G Major Presto
  11. Suite #2 in B minor Ouverture
  12. Suite #2 in B minor Rondeau
  13. Suite #2 in B minor Sarabande
  14. Suite #2 in B minor I/II
  15. Polonaise - Double
  16. Suite #2 in B minor Menuet
  17. Suite #2 in B minor Badineire

Tracks:

  1. (Allegro), Concerto No. 2 in F major BWV 1047
  2. Andante, Concerto No. 2 in F major BWV 1047
  3. Allegro assai, Concerto No. 2 in F major BWV 1047
  4. Allegro, Concerto No. 5 in D major BWV 1050
  5. Affettuoso, Concerto No. 5 in D major BWV 1050
  6. Allegro, Concerto No. 5 in D major BWV 1050
  7. (Allegro), Concerto No. 6 in D major BWV 1051
  8. Adagio ma non tanto, Concerto No. 6 in D major BWV 1051
  9. Allegro, Concerto No. 6 in D major BWV 1051
  10. No 3 - en r'e majeur - 1. Ouverture
  11. Air, Suite No. 3 in D major BWV 1068
  12. Gavotte I/II, Suite No. 3 in D major BWV 1068
  13. Bourree, Suite No. 3 in D major BWV 1068
  14. Gigue, Suite No. 3 in D major BWV 1068

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars "Blach"....!.......2004-10-16

I'm sorry but I can't say that these are Brandenburgs for Bach lovers, but actually for Karajan lovers!

Don't get me wrong, Karajan is one of my favorite conductors but when I listened to these 1960's recordings, I was totally turned off. Everything seemed out of place and weird. The tempo and the interpretation are really muddied by the Berlin Philharmonic.

There some nice moments, but overall it doesn't even come close to those readings by Britten, Marriner and Richter! This is music for joyful living, not for trying to understand Karajan!

Even Karajan's 1980 recordings of the Brandenburgs don't lift off, and the sound is monotonous. If you want big band Brandenburgs with lilt, joy, freedom and profundity...it is by far the Klemperer recordings with the Philharmonia Orchestra that clobber all other Brandenburgs! You will never find them though because EMI hasn't released them on CD for their catalogue...bozos! But you can find them on vinyl second hand...if you got a player.

Anyway, stick to Britten, Marriner and Richter for Brandenburgs as a feast of fruits!

5 out of 5 stars A powerful testament against the period instrument fashion.......2002-12-05

I simply have never been able to understand why in the past three decades or so anything other than a "period" recording of any classical music, especially that of Bach, is looked upon as taboo. To be perfectly frank, I have never heard a "period" recording that I have been completely satisfied with, although perhaps some exist. I understand what they are aiming for, that is, a performance that sounds as close to what it would have sounded like originally as possible, but I don't understand why they are aiming for it; after all, is it completely obvious that all composers compose for the instruments of the time? I don't think so. For example, Beethoven's last piano sonatas certainly were not composed for the timid little piano of the early 19th century; Beethoven even said that those sonatas were beyond the capabilities of the piano (of that time). Although one might think that Beethoven was the exception, rather than the rule, I myself disagree. Rather, I see Beethoven not as a radical revolutionary in classical music, but rather the continuation and summit of the principles underlying the music of Mozart and Bach. What I am really trying to say here is that performance of great music should NOT be judged on whether or not it happens to be performed on instruments similar to those of the period, but entirely on whether or not the sound, the feeling of the performed music corresponds to what the composer was trying to convey. Incidentally, allow me to point out how contradictory the period enthusiasts are; these people look on performances of Bach with modern orchestras with disdain; however these very same people worship the crisp, clean style of Gould, even though he performed on the piano, not the instrument the music was written for, the harpsichord.
I myself find the sound of period performances of the Brandenburgs much too sharp and shallow for my tastes, and for what I believe Bach would have wanted. However, this set of recordings have exactly the opposite characteristics; throughout, the sound is beautiful, rich and resonant, and the Berlin Philharmonic brings out the emotional power of this music like no period orchestra can. I especially love the slow movements of these concertos, both the compositions and performances are tender, powerful, and moving. I honestly believe that these performances carry across what Bach wanted to convey. Incidentally, I must respectfully disagree with an earlier reviewer; I can hear the harpsichord in fifth concerto perfectly well, and I think the balance of the harpsichord against the violin, flute, and orchestra is completely appropriate. To be sure, the harpsichord does not have as much sheer volume as the other participants, but that is in the nature of the instrument, and cannot be overcome in real performance.

4 out of 5 stars Overall not a bad effort, but ponderous.......2000-07-18

On the whole, this set is quite satisfying musically, although the general feel is rather heavy, owing mostly to a large modern orchestral set rather than to the conducting. The use of modern flutes instead of recorders in the second and fourth concerti changes the tone a great deal, not particularly for the better, as recorders sound much more "clean" in general. The tempi are fairly sound, and I especially like the true Largo opening to the second Orchestral suite's overture, which is appropriately "overdotted" in the French Style. The flute work in that piece is exemplary. The sixth concerto probably suffers the most from being played on modern instruments, sacrificing the more nasal tone of the two violas da gamba in favor of two more sets of 'celli, although it is remarkably clear for the most part. The harpsichord in the fifth is the most disappointing, and is practically smothered in many areas, probably due to the fact that the piece was originally intended to be played with the three soloists and only one violin, viola, violoncello and bass instead of a full symphony orchestra. The harpsichord continuo is generally on the weak side, but this is probably mere overbalancing on the part of the strings. I prefer the English Concert/Trevor Pinnock/Archiv version for a more "historically accurate" version (it is also played at low pitch, that is A = modern A-flat). In addition to using the proper instrumentation, the ensemble is more cohesive as a whole as a result of having fewer players and only a harpsichordist as the conductor.

3 out of 5 stars Not too bad, but could be better........1999-12-31

This recording seems to be too timid and not energetic enough. It feels very dragged down. Plus, the most amazing thing about it is missing - the harpsichord solo of the 5th movement. You can't even hear the already passive soloist. My suggestion is that you buy the Jeanne Lamon, Tafelmusik version (even though the 5th concerto in D is really in C#). I believe it is on period instruments and it feels much better to my ears. But it is Bach so don't feel too bad if you buy this version. It is still extremely good.

5 out of 5 stars Surprisingly satisfying!.......1999-09-02

Karajan and Bach? That seems like an unlikely combination, considering that the great conductor spent most of his energies in the Romantic world of Wagner, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky, not the Baroque world of Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi. There are so many period instrument interpretations of the Brandenburg Concertos these days, one can almost laugh at the thought of the Berlin Philharmonic taking on these works. But the results are wonderful! While the recordings with period instruments often emphasize the remoteness of Bach's music, these modern versions show that Bach was truly the father of Classical music. One is immediately swept away by the beauty of the strings, and the cheerful, well-integrated detail of the winds. These are works that belong next to Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms. They may not be first choice (Karl Richter's legendary versions hold that title), but Karajan's Brandenburgs are an insightful and beautiful way to experience Bach, and I highly recommend them.

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  3. Ballet Music from Famous Operas
  4. Ballets
  5. Beautiful Classical Melodies
  6. Beecham conducts Wagner
  7. Beethoven Edition: Die Konzerte - Einführung von Dr. Udo Unger mit 29 Musikbeispielen
  8. Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 3 "Eroica" & 6 "Pastorale"
  9. Beethoven: The Piano Concertos - Choral Fantasy / Levin, Gardiner [Box set]
  10. Berthold Goldschmidt: Retrospectrum

Music Review

music review

Music Review

Ecstatic

Girard: Sacred Music

Gayaneh Complete Ballet

London Underground

Les Demoiselles De Rochefort [Soundtrack] [Import]

Let's Get Small

Houses of the Holy (Dig) (Mlps) [Import] [Limited Edition]

How Long's a Tear Take to Pt. 2

Hymns of the All-Night Virgin [Import]

Great Voices: Kirsten Flagstad

Jazz Music: 1935-1951

Ellas Cantan Asi

I Got the Hook Up [Soundtrack] [Clean]

Donizetti: Linda Di Chamounix

This Side of Paradise