Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1-6

The Brandenburg Concertos are a collection of six instrumental works presented by Bach to Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt. They are widely regarded as some of the best orchestral compositions of the Baroque era. The word grosso simply means “large,” for there are more soloists than was customary at the time, and the music tends to be more expansive. In the case of the Brandenburg Concerto No. 1, the soloists are so numerous that the work is virtually symphonic. At various points in the composition, Bach crafted solo roles for one violin, three oboes, one bassoon, and two horns—nearly as many musicians as might constitute a small orchestra. The second concerto of the set has a perilously high trumpet solo as well as solos for recorder (or flute), oboe, and violin. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 features three each of violins, violas, and cellos. Soloists in the fourth concerto include two flutes and a violin and in the fifth a flute, a violin, and a harpsichord. Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, the only piece in the collection to include no violins whatsoever, spotlights the lower strings, supplemented, as always, by the harpsichord.

CD 1: J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.1 in F BWV 1046

1. 1st mvt. Allegro

2. 2nd mvt. Adagio

3. 3rd mvt. Allegro

4. 4th mvt. Menuetto – Trio I – Polacca – Trio II

Yehudi Menuhin (Violino piccolo)

J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.2 in F BWV 1047

5. 1st mvt. Allegro

6. 2nd mvt. Andante

7. 3rd mvt. Allegro assai

Denis Clift (Trumpet), Christopher Taylor (Recorder), Janet Craxton (Oboe), Yehudi Menuhin (Violin)

J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G BWV 1048

8. 1st mvt. Allegro

9. 2nd mvt. Adagio

10.3rd mvt. Allegro

(Bath Festival Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin director)

CD 2: J.S.Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 in G BWV 1049

1. 1st mvt. Allegro

2. 2nd mvt. Andante

3. 3rd mvt. Presto

Christopher Taylor, Richard Taylor (Recorder), Yehudi Menuhin (Violin)

J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.5 in D BWV 1050

4. 1st mvt. Allegro

5. 2nd mvt. Affettuoso

6. 3rd mvt.Allegro

Yehudi Menuhin (Violiin), Elaine Shaffer (Flute), George Malcolm (Harpischord)

J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.6 in B flat BWV 1051

7. 1st mvt. Allegro

8. 2nd mvt. Adagio, ma non tanto

9. 3rd mvt. Allegro

Yehudi Menuhin, Patrick Ireland (Viola), Ambrose Gauntlett et, Dennis Nesbitt (Viola da gamba), Derek Simpson (Cello)

(Bath Festival Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin director)

J.S. Bach: Concerto for Violin in A minor BWV 1041

10.1st mvt. Allegro

11.2nd mvt. Andante

12.3rd mvt. Allegro assai

(Yehudi Menuhin with the Robert Masters Chamber Orchestra)