Bach: Brandenburg Concertos, Harpsichord Concertos, and Violin Concertos. Reinhard Goebel, Musica Antiqua Koln; Simon Standage, violin, with Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert. DG Panorama 289 469 103-2 (2-disc set).Bach: Brandenburg Concertos The Brandenburg concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach (BWV 1046–1051, original title: Six Concerts Avec plusieurs Instruments[1]) are a collection of six instrumental works presented by Bach to Christian Ludwig, margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt , Harpsichord harpsichord, stringed musical instrument played from a keyboard. Its strings, two or more to a note, are plucked by quills or jacks. The harpsichord originated in the 14th cent. and by the 16th cent. Venice was the center of its manufacture. Concertos, and Violin Concertos. Reinhard Goebel Reinhard Goebel (born 1952) is a German conductor and violinist specialising in early music on authentic instruments. Goebel received his first violin lessons at the age of twelve. , Musica Antiqua Koln; Simon Standage Simon Andrew Thomas Standage (born 8th November 1941 in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire) is an English violinist and conductor best known for playing and conducting music of the baroque and classical eras on original instruments. , violin, with Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert. DG Panorama 289 469 103-2 (2-disc set). This two-disc set is a part of DG's new series of important classical works culled from their back catalog. It features the six Brandenburg Concertos, the two Harpsichord Concertos, and the two Violin Concertos, all done on period instruments. The concept is fine, but I question DG's choice of representative recordings. The centerpiece of the collection is, of course, the group of Brandenburgs, and here lies the main fault. Why did DG choose Goebel's 1987 performances, especially when they had Pinnock's superb realizations at hand? Goebel's interpretations are among those that put breakneck break·neck adj. 1. Dangerously fast: a breakneck pace. 2. Likely to cause an accident: a breakneck curve. speed above everything else. They're mostly hell-bent-for-leather affairs, attempts to show off the band's virtuosity at the expense of presenting anything worth listening to. I have no doubt that in Bach's time no orchestra would have played the pieces at such reckless tempos. For one thing, the eighteenth century was the Age of Reason, the Age of Enlightenment The Enlightenment (French: Siècle des Lumières; German: Aufklärung; Italian: Illuminismo; Portuguese: , and people simply would not have countenanced such hectic, foolhardy fool·har·dy adj. fool·har·di·er, fool·har·di·est Unwisely bold or venturesome; rash. See Synonyms at reckless. [Middle English folhardi, from Old French fol hardi : playing; for another, there probably wasn't a house band in Germany masterly enough to have accomplished the deed. So what's the point of "authenticity" if the interpretations probably bear little relation to reality? Fortunately, the accompanying Harpsichord and Violin Concertos are excellent, particularly the latter with Simon Standage as violinist with Trevor Pinnock and his English Concert. The early eighties sound in the Violin Concertos is also quite fetching--cleaner, smoother, and more natural than in the other works on the discs. At a modest price, this set may seem inviting, but, overall, I'd stick with recommended individual accounts, even if the asking price is higher. |
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