Advantages: Beautiful relaxing music. Rich instrumentation. Played with passion. Disadvantages: Not all instruments are from the period.
...If I was ever asked to select my "desert island discs", top of my list would be Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. (I wonder if there's a category in the ciao café?. . . ) The six Brandenburg concertos, each with their distinct quality and sound requiring a different combination of instruments, are not only a delight to listen to but exemplify the intellectual musical genius of their composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. All six are composed in major keys creating and maintaining a cheerful, vivacious collection. The modulations of key demanded by the baroque conventions are skilfully completed and Bach's predilection for numbers and ornate touches are evident. I could say more but this isn't a musical analysis . . .
I am not alone in my high estimation, The Brandenburg concertos are now probably the best loved and most frequently performed works...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: A definite easy listen Disadvantages: Maybe too easy
...exactly say im 'into' it, i jus fancied a change. Its a good CD if u want to relax or for background music if u have sophisticated dinner parties!
Not one of the most used CDs iv bought. In fact i only listen to it about once evry 2 months so it isn't exactly excellent value for money.
Below is a list of the tracks incase ur interested. The CD is priced around £19.99 and available from most music stores such as HMV and Virgin Megastore.
CD 1
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
Pachelbel: Canon
JS Bach - Air 'on the G string'
Mozart - Ave verum corpus
Handel - Largo
JS Bach - Jesus bleibet meine Freude
Mozart - Clarinet Concerto
Beethoven - 'Emporer' Concerto
Mascagni - Intermezzo
Bruch - Violin Concerto
Rutter - The Lort is my shepherd
Saint-Saens - Aquarium
Holst - Venus
Chopin - Piano Concerto No 1 in E minor
Faure - Pie Jesu
Shostakovich...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
somewhat helpful 17.06.2004
Just Sit Bach for J S Bach Review ofBach: Concerto for Two Violins in D minor / Violin Concertos in A minor & E minorby
MAFARRIMOND
Advantages: Romantic orchestral music Disadvantages: Only 1 hour - eat quickly for a romantic dinner
...Johann Sebastian Bach, giant among Baroque composers, was a prolific writer whose versatility and creativity resulted in a wealth of musical works with a diversity ranging from sacred choral works, keyboard music to orchestra music.
The CD, Concerto for Two Violins in D minor / Violin Concertos in A minor & E minor, is an orchestral recording conducted by Salvatore Accardo, in which two violins (Anne-Sophie Mutter and Salvatore Accardo) / solo violin (Anne-Sophie Mutter) are contrasted with a larger orchestra (English Chamber Orchestra) of strings and bass continuo instrument the harpsichord.
Bach is often criticized for his strict attention to form. Whilst, I greatly admire Bach for his intellectual and methodical approach to composition, what I enjoy most is the harmonious and melodic music that results.
This CD is a superb example...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful