The King's Consort, Kati Debretzeni, Huw Daniel, Robin Michael, Eligio Quinteiro, Robert King Bach: Six Trio Sonatas (arr Robert King) (2023)

Here Bachs Trio Sonatas BWV 525-530 for organ have been re-imagined in historically informed arrangements for baroque chamber ensemble, made in the spirit of Bach, himself a serial re-arranger of his own works. They are performed by the Tempesta di Mare Chamber Players, an early-music ensemble described by Fanfare as one of the finest in the world.

There is no shortage of good Bach violin concerto recordings, nor even of those played by historical-performance groups, yet this one has several distinct attractions. First, is simply the presence of violinist Kati Debretzeni, long a violin section leader of Gardiner's English Baroque Soloists but rarely heard as a soloist in her own right. She's one of the few historical-performance specialists to have emerged from Eastern Europe, and she deserves wider exposure.

Music is and has always been a powerful means of expression and communication that goes beyond national borders. It is no different in the case of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Philipp Telemann. Both composers drew inspiration not only from their native, German style but - like many of their contemporaries - also from other musical centres of 18th-century Europe, such as Italy and France.

The E. Power Biggs recording of Bach's six Trio Sonatas needs little introduction. Recorded by Biggs in 1966, the performances have been a staple of the CBS/Sony discography. These six sonatas are usually performed on organ, but they excellently accomodate the pedal harpsichord. Generally thought of as a practice instrument for organists, the pedal harpsichord becomes an ideal performing tool with E. Power Biggs at the helm.