New Album Review: J.S. Bach: Ouvertüren

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I grew up with Otto Klemperer and the Philharmonia Orchestra’s recording of the Bach’s Orchestral Suites for EMI. They were gorgeously played but hardly historically informed performances. Now period instrument bands enjoy interpretive hegemony in this repertoire, so this new set by the Freiburger Barockorchester isn’t the novelty it would have been some years ago.
The suites or “ouvertüren” as they are called in performance source materials are filled with some of Bach’s most colorful orchestral writing. Two of the suites (BWV 1068 and1069) are richly scored for an ensemble that includes trumpets, drums, oboes, bassoon, strings and continuo. The BWV 1066 is more modestly scored for oboes, bassoon, strings and continuo, while the BWV 1067 for flute, violins, viola and continuo. Each of the suites is comprised of dance movements that run a range of styles and moods.

All-Star Composer Lineup!

A mid-July favorite, Major League Baseball’s All-Star game is a showcase for the game’s best. But what if there were an all-star game for composers? Who would make the team and what would be the batting order? We selected a composer all-star team and some of their best works, and made some pretty nifty composer baseball cards to go with them...

See the all-star lineup and check out the cards!