W.f Bach

The son of the peerless Johann Sebastian, Wilhelm Friedemann was the least famous Bach of his time. Yet he is now regarded by some as the most brilliant of the Bach children, and is occasionally reported to have been his father's favourite. A master of numerous different keyboard instruments, he was not particularly prolific, and of his 100 or so known works, many remained unprinted until the 20th century.

Reinhard Goebel and Musica Antiqua Koln s recordings of J. S. Bach are classics of the Early Music movement. Equally revelatory is their championing of the music of the Bach family stretching from the mid-17th to the late 18th century: a treasure trove of vocal and instrumental works. Here they are complete in a single box for the first time, with Magdalena Kozená a stunning soloist.

A unique collection of music and pieces arranged for organ, composed by J.S. Bach and members of the Bach Family. Expertly arranged and played by Mark Swinton at the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick, UK, the music featured here demonstrates the development of keyboard music across the generations of the Bach family. The beautiful Nicholson organ of St Mary’s is perfectly suited to the music of the Baroque and early Classical periods.

Wilhelm Friedemann Bach was Director of Music in Halle from 1746 to 1764. This position was in many respects similar to that of Johann Sebastian Bach’s in Leipzig. Certainly, in performing his duties Friedemann Bach largely followed the example of his father – whether in matters of organ playing, choice of repertoire or making demands of the musicians. W. F. Bach was required to perform a cantata every third week and also on all feast days. The cantatas and Mass compositions performed here for the first time are works from this era – outstanding artistic contributions to the genre of the church cantata after J. S. Bach. Under the direction of Jürgen Ochs the eight singers of the Rastatter Hofkapelle perform both the choral as well as solo passages.

Daniil Trifonov returns with an album dedicated to J.S. Bach. He explores the scientific, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of Bach's cosmos, his faith, family, and world. Centered around Bach's mystical masterpiece, The Art of the Fugue, Trifonov's project investigates the man behind the myth - a genius of humility and humor, whose loves, losses, and devotion inspired what Trifonov calls "some of humanity's most emotionally rich and fascinatingly sophisticated expressions in music."

Die Sechs Duette F54-59 wurden von Wilhelm Friedemann Bach ursprünglich für zwei Flöten geschrieben. Für diese Aufnahme ließen sich Omar Zoboli und Sergio Delmastro von der melodischen und rhythmischen Raffinesse der Werke inspirieren und arrangierten diese für ihre diversen Leib- und Mageninstrumente. Der Einsatz unterschiedlicher Klangfarben von Oboe, Englischhorn, Saxophon Klarinette und Bassetthorn lässt die Kompositionen dabei in ganz neuem Licht erscheinen.

Les Violons du Roy. Chamber orchestra based in Quebec City, composed of 15 permanent musicians, founded in 1984 by principal conductor Bernard Labadie. Its name comes from that of the court orchestra of the Bourbon kings of France in the 17th and 18th centuries.