Stereophile 2010 Record to Die For!
Long neglected on a library shelf in Brandenburg Castle, these six ‘Concertos for several instruments’ have since become some of the best-known works in the classical repertoire for their musical inventiveness and their games of mathematical symmetry. Richard Egarr and the Academy of Ancient Music have endeavored to return to the original ‘chamber’ conception of the works, with one player per part.
"Well, I'm here to tell you that the new Egarr-AAM Brandenburgs really blow. In a good way. They blow centuries of library dust off these pieces, and they blow fantastic horn and trumpet lines. Egarr & Co. are in it to win it. Whew. The first disc had hardly played 10 seconds when I was grabbing for the remote control to play again the most amazing horn parts I have ever heard - wild, outdoorsy, jazzy, almost bebop horn parts. As the six concertos unfolded, there was no sense of letdown, just continuing pleasant surprises, such as the ad-lib Baroque guitar (guitar?!?) part reinforcing the harpsichord in Concerto 5." - John Marks, Stereophile June 2009
"...what has this (version of Brandenburg Concertos) got that the other ones don't...? It has a good supply of the usual desirables: tempos that are brisk when necessary but never rushed; a good sense of the dance; fine audiophile sound, as expected from producer Robina G. Young and engineer Brad Michel. It has two other things as well. First, there is but one instrument to a part... giving delicacy and clarity to every note. The sound helps here, with each instrument in its own distinct space...As to the second matter...(it has) nearly a whole tone below modern concert pitch. Once you get used to it, it's more than a little pleasant..." - Les Berkley, Stereophile Magazine, July 2009, pg 102
Musicians:
Academy of Ancient Music
Richard Egarr, conductor
Selections:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Brandenburg Concertos
1-4. Concerto no. 1 BWV 1046
5-7. Concerto no. 2 BWV 1047
8-9. Concerto no. 3 BWV 1048
10-13. Concerto no. 4 BWV 1049
14-16. Concerto no. 5 BWV 1050
17-19. Concerto no. 6 BWV 1051
Total Playing Time: 1H36
Long neglected on a library shelf in Brandenburg Castle, these six ‘Concertos for several instruments’ have since become some of the best-known works in the classical repertoire for their musical inventiveness and their games of mathematical symmetry. Richard Egarr and the Academy of Ancient Music have endeavored to return to the original ‘chamber’ conception of the works, with one player per part.
"Well, I'm here to tell you that the new Egarr-AAM Brandenburgs really blow. In a good way. They blow centuries of library dust off these pieces, and they blow fantastic horn and trumpet lines. Egarr & Co. are in it to win it. Whew. The first disc had hardly played 10 seconds when I was grabbing for the remote control to play again the most amazing horn parts I have ever heard - wild, outdoorsy, jazzy, almost bebop horn parts. As the six concertos unfolded, there was no sense of letdown, just continuing pleasant surprises, such as the ad-lib Baroque guitar (guitar?!?) part reinforcing the harpsichord in Concerto 5." - John Marks, Stereophile June 2009
"...what has this (version of Brandenburg Concertos) got that the other ones don't...? It has a good supply of the usual desirables: tempos that are brisk when necessary but never rushed; a good sense of the dance; fine audiophile sound, as expected from producer Robina G. Young and engineer Brad Michel. It has two other things as well. First, there is but one instrument to a part... giving delicacy and clarity to every note. The sound helps here, with each instrument in its own distinct space...As to the second matter...(it has) nearly a whole tone below modern concert pitch. Once you get used to it, it's more than a little pleasant..." - Les Berkley, Stereophile Magazine, July 2009, pg 102
Musicians:
Academy of Ancient Music
Richard Egarr, conductor
Selections:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Brandenburg Concertos
1-4. Concerto no. 1 BWV 1046
5-7. Concerto no. 2 BWV 1047
8-9. Concerto no. 3 BWV 1048
10-13. Concerto no. 4 BWV 1049
14-16. Concerto no. 5 BWV 1050
17-19. Concerto no. 6 BWV 1051
Total Playing Time: 1H36
