Bach: Brandenburg Concertos

Florilegium

Released on 2014-11-17 by Channel Classics
Main artists: Florilegium
Genre: Classical

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In a strange twist of fate, the Brandenburg Concertos have come to be named after a man whodidn’t especially want them, never heard them, and may not have liked them had he done so.Johann Sebastian Bach met Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg in 1719 during his tenureas music director at the court of Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen, who was the young prince responsiblefor signing up some of the musicians who were previously employed by Frederick William I. Bachworked at Anhalt-Cöthen from 1717 to 1723, and he and Leopold developed an excellent workingrelationship there. The Prince enjoyed travel, fine art and, above all, music, and he respected andencouraged Bach in his work, even occasionally participating in the court concerts as violinist,viola da gambist or harpsichordist. Provided by Leopold with an excellent set of instruments anda group of fine players (and the second-highest salary of any of his court employees), Bachenjoyed a fruitful period at Cöthen. Many of his greatest works for keyboard, chamber ensemblesand orchestra date from those years.Early in 1719 Leopold sent Bach to Berlin to finalise arrangements for the purchase of a newharpsichord, a large two-manual model made by Michael Mietke who was the instrument builderto the royal court. While in Berlin Bach played for Christian Ludwig, who was so taken with hismusic that he asked him to send some of his compositions for his library. Bach lost an infant sona few months later however, in 1720 his wife Maria Barbara died, and he rejected an offer tobecome organist at the Jacobkirche in Hamburg, so it was more than two years before he fulfilledBrandenburg’s request. By 1721, however, Leopold had become engaged to marry a woman who washorrified by the amount of money channelled to musical entertainment at the court. Bach seems to have realised that when she moved in, he would probably be moved out, so he began looking fora more secure position. He remembered the interest the Margrave Brandenburg had shown in hismusic, and thought it a good time to approach him again. He therefore picked six of the finestconcertos he had written, copied them out meticulously, had them bound into a sumptuousvolume (at considerable cost) and sent them to Christian Ludwig.

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Bach: Brandenburg Concertos

Florilegium

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Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B-Flat Major, BWV 1051 (Johann Sebastian Bach)