Catalogue

Summary:

“Pinnock’s seemingly unassailable ability to choose an effective, just tempo for each movement, and his infectious rhythmic energy both as director from the harpsichord and as accomplished soloist in the Fifth Concerto… In summary, this is a splendid achievement.” – BBC Music magazine ★★★★★

“…the players of the European Brandenburg Ensemble include some of the finest of today’s Baroque chamber players, and there is a relaxed expertise about their performances which seems to allow them to communicate directly and without technical or ideological hindrance. This is not a Brandenburg set that sets out to score points, and all that is needed from us is to sit back and enjoy its relaxed, celebratory spirit.” – Gramophone

Gramophone Editor’s Choice, March 2008
Gramophone Award Winner 2008: Baroque Instrumental
BBC Radio 3 Record Review – Building a Library, December 2017: Recommended recording

Trevor Pinnock recorded his first Brandenburg Concertos in the early 1980s. This new recording is a product of his deep fascination with Bach’s ground-breaking concertos and in the working process and interaction of musicians in ensemble. Eager to cut through any narrow conceptions of period style, players from different countries and of different generations were invited to join this new voyage of exploration. In the early eighteenth century there was no fixed concept of the orchestra; these pieces could be performed on single instruments to a part or with parts doubled. This fine recording demonstrates a variety of approaches.

Tracklist:

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685–1750)

Disc 1

Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major, BWV 1046
1. I [Allegro] (3:52)
2. II Adagio (3:39)
3. III Allegro (4:09)
4. IV Menuetto – Trio I – Polacca – Trio II (7:32)

Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048
5. I [Allegro] (5:32)
6. II [Adagio] (1:29) – Improvisation by Kati Debretzeni
7. III Allegro (4:46)

Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, BWV 1050
8. I Allegro (9:58)
9. II Affettuoso (5:30)
10. III Allegro 5:15)

Disc 2

Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major, BWV 1047
1. I [Allegro] (4:54)
2. II Andante (3:45)
3. III Allegro assai (2:53)

Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G Major, BWV 1049
4. I Allegro (6:46)
5. II Andante (3:38)
6. III Presto (4:40)

Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B Flat Major, BWV 1051
7. I [Allegro] (5:54)
8. II Adagio ma non tanto (4:33)
9. III Allegro (5:24)

Total duration: 94.23

Trevor Pinnock, harpsichord/director
European Brandenburg Ensemble

Recorded 16–18 December 2006 and 2–5 January in the Ballroom at the Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield, England, and 29–30 September 2007 at the Henry Wood Hall, London, England
Production, Engineering, Mix and Mastering: Michele Gaggia – DNS Studios