Brandenburg  Concetos

 

Maybe the most known orchstral pieces of Bach (second only, maybe, to the 2nd orchestral suite). The 6 are perfrect examples of different typs of Concerti Grossi. There is a wonderful article about them here.

 

In this page I have not completed yet the posting of recordings of the entire concertos, but I promise to update with time.

There is a very interesting article about a new interpretation of the collection, by Philip Pickett.

 

Concerto no. 1

Swingle Singers:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn3ge3lzH_I

 

Concerto no. 2

Accademia della magnifica comunita:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxyLdPI84-I

 

Concerto no. 3

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCeEegoH-ic

Roy Goodman and the Brandenburg Consort:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJEd77vJlhs

Concerto no. 4

Concerto Berlin

httpv://www.youtube.com/user/ConcertoBerlin#p/u/1/QJPKgwMyMr4

Concerto no. 5

Quoting from NPR

“When Bach played chamber music, he usually took the viola part so he could sit–as he wrote in a letter–”in the middle of the harmony.” But for the Concerto No. 5 he had a real inspiration. He switched to harpsichord, gave it a knock-out part and, in the process, invented the modern keyboard concerto. The writing is so advanced and so intricate for its time that scholars assume the Fifth Concerto is actually the last Brandenburg Concerto Bach wrote.”

Concerto Italiano dir. Rinaldo alessandrini:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSEuMxeGwGI

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbbeMkZyI2U&feature=related

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zLqaSpGwcY&feature=related

Solo perfromed by Gustave Leonheart:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxzY3tFTz9k

Concerto no. 6

Again quoting from NPR

“If the dazzling writing style of the Fifth Concerto points to a late composition date, the Sixth Concerto probably came first in chronological order. It’s got a simple part for the viola da gamba, a forerunner of the cello, which Bach probably put there for his employer, Prince Leopold, to play. The Prince was wealthy man and a serious music lover but probably a performer of only modest talent. The Sixth is also unique in the set because Bach omitted the violins from the ensemble; the violas take the highest string part. All six Brandenburg Concertos reveal the ebullient side of Bach, and they’re one of the most welcome gifts he left us.”

Recommended Recordings & Books: