Instrumentation:
- three violins, three violas, three cellos
- harpsichord (as basso continuo)
Note: three of each is unusual, and the one thing that is misleading to me is the omission of the 10th string player. “Basso continuo” means that a bass line was written with figured bass Note: three of each is unusual, and the one that is misleading to me is the omission of the 10th string player. “Basso continuo” means that a bass line was written with figured, figured bass, that indicated the bass line, and from that the bass player improvised. From that you would think harpsichord did it all, but if you look closely you will see that there is something very much like the double bass we use today, and that to me is much more important than the harpsichord, which most of the time you can barely here.that indicated the bass line, and from that the bass player improvised. From that you would think harpsichord did it all, but if you look closely you will see that there is something very much like the double bass we use today, (viola da gamba is HERE). That to me is much more important than the harpsichord, which most of the time you can barely here.
Sato, Netherlands Bach Society
The energy of this group is what makes me like this performance better than any other, and Sato’s conception is the one I like the most. The one thing he does differently than all other violinists is the stretching of some beats, which I personally like, but his playing just seems a little more wild, almost out of control, so passionate. He makes the music of Bach sound incredibly vital and brings a freshness to everything I’ve never heard before.
Musica Amphion
This group is polished, and their playing is smooth as silk with a ton of energy. If I had to buy one recording of all the concertos, this might be the one.
Bach later put the six concertos together and dedicated them to the margrave of Brandenburg, hoping to get a new job out of it.