J.S. Bach: Sonatas, BWV 1027, 1028, 1029

On this CD:

1. Sonata for viola da gamba & keyboard No. 2 in D major, BWV 1028
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Alfonso Fedi, Bettina Hoffmann

2. Sonata for viola da gamba & keyboard No. 1 in G major, BWV 1027
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Alfonso Fedi, Bettina Hoffmann

3. Sonata for viola da gamba & keyboard No. 3 in G minor, BWV 1029
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Alfonso Fedi, Bettina Hoffmann

Tracks:

Sonata BWV 1028, D Major: Adagio
Sonata BWV 1028, D Major: Allegro
Sonata BWV 1028, D Major: Andante
Sonata BWV 1028, D Major: Allegro
Sonata BWV 1027, G Major: Adagio
Sonata BWV 1027, G Major: Allegro ma non troppo
Sonata BWV 1027, G Major: Andante
Sonata BWV 1027, G Major: Allegro moderato
Sonata BWV 1029, G Minor: Vivace
Sonata BWV 1029, G Minor: Adagio
Sonata BWV 1029, G Minor: Allegro

J.S. Bach: Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsihord

Average customer rating:

J.S. Bach: Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsihord

Manufacturer: Signum UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004TXWM
Release Date: 2000-06-28

J. S. Bach: Sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord

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J. S. Bach: Sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord

Manufacturer: Centaur
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000BLI4YC
Release Date: 2005-10-25

J.S. Bach: The Sonatas for Viola da Gamba

Average customer rating:

Intimate, wistful, close and warm

J.S. Bach: The Sonatas for Viola da Gamba

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005UVAR
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Tracks:

I Adagio
II Allegro Ma Non Tanto
III Andante
IV Allegro Moderato
I Adagio
II Allegro
III Andante
IV Allegro
I Vivace
II Adagio
III Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Intimate, wistful, close and warm.......2004-08-30

As so often with Bach, his sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord represent the culmination of an epoque: at a time (ca. 1740) when the viola da gamba was going out of fashion and being replaced by the violoncello, Bach wrote two highly modern Italianate pieces for the instrument (BWV 1028 and 1029) that not only wonderfully display its noble, somewhat nasal qualities but also introduce elements of "discourse" between the two instruments such as are to be found in the chamber music of the Classical period. The third sonata (BWV 1027) is a transcription of a flute sonata which itself was probably transcribed from a work for two violins and basso continuo; in it Bach has re-worked his trio sonata texture so as to give the harpsichordist both the bass line and one of the two melody lines. The impression left by the whole is one of intimacy - an impression strengthened by the performance of Jordi Savall and Ton Koopman, who seem here to linger wistfully over every note, at least in the slow movements. This EMI recording was made in 1977 using analogue technology, but the sound is wonderfully close and warm, reflecting the interpretation and enabling the listener to follow every note with ease.

Savall and Koopman are two of Europe's leading period instrument instrumentalists; they seem to have got together again about a quarter of a century after making this recording to produce the same repertoire for Savall's independent label Alia Vox. I haven't heard the new version, but I must confess that I have been more than happy with the old one for many years. Its re-release on Virgin Classics is much more than an exercise in re-cycling and deserves much praise, the only caveat being that the total playing time of less than 44 minutes is extremely short.