Bach for Barbecue: Grillin' and Chillin' with Johann Sebastian

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Neville Marriner (Conductor), I Musici (Performer), Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields (Orchestra), Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra), English Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra), Helmut Walcha (Performer), András Schiff (Performer), Jean Louis Steuerman (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: I Musici, Helmut Walcha, András Schiff, Jean Louis Steuerman
• Orchestra: Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: Neville Marriner
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (May 8, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B00005BJMK
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,708 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047: Allegro assai

2. Suite for solo cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: Bourée 1&2

3. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048: 3rd Mvt, Allegro

4. Two-Part Invention, for keyboard No. 1 in C major, BWV 772 (BC L42)

5. Two-Part Invention, for keyboard No. 8 in F major, BWV 779 (BC L49)

6. Two-Part Invention, for keyboard No. 4 in D minor, BWV 775 (BC L45)

7. Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049: 1st Mvt., Allegro

8. Prelude and Fugue, for keyboard No. 1 in C major (WTC I/1), BWV 846 (BC L80): Prelude

9. Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050: 1st Mvt., Allegro

10. Partita for solo violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002: Bourée

11. Partita for solo violin No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006: Preludio

12. Italian Concerto, for solo keyboard in F major (Clavier-Übung II/1), BWV 971 (BC L7): 1st Mvt.

13. Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of the Fugue), for keyboard (or other instruments), BWV 1080: Contrapunctus, No. 9

14. Fantasia and Fugue, for organ in G minor ('Great'), BWV 542 (BC J42, 57, 67): Fugue

15. Concerto for violin, strings & continuo No. 2 in E major, BWV 1042: Allegro

16. Fugue for organ in G minor ('Little'), BWV 578 (BC J66)

17. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052: 3rd Mvt., Allegro

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and eclectic collection of Bach, July 26, 2009

By 

M. A. Minerva - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bach for Barbecue: Grillin' and Chillin' with Johann Sebastian (Audio CD)

This is one of the best Bach CDs I have heard and will be an excellent introduction of Bach's work to the novice who doesn't want to be overwhelmed by full concertos. My personal favorite is the Fugue in G Minor, a wonderful, passionate piece of work!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended, With a Couple of Reservations, November 17, 2005

By 

Classicalfan "Classicalfan" (Reston, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach for Barbecue: Grillin' and Chillin' with Johann Sebastian (Audio CD)

This is the fourth Bach CD I've gotten in this series and the first one that I would rate as having less than a perfect score of five. The other three Bach CDs I have in this series are "Bach for Book Lovers," "Bach for Bedtime," and "Bach for Breakfast." The first two are intended to be for quiet times and relaxation and are similar to the "Bach for Relaxation" and "Bach for Meditation" CDs I have, to which I would also give a score of 5.

This CD gets a score of 4 instead of 5 because of 3 of the 17 selections, especially 2 of them. Track 8 is the famous Prelude in C major from the Well-Tempered Clavier, transcribed for harp and performed by Marisa Robles. Part of the beauty of individual performances of music is the unique quality of each performer's interpretation of that music; that can certainly include tempo, especially with Bach's music, where it is not completely certain exactly at what tempo he would have performed it himself. However, I have heard this particular composition performed by several different musicians, including F. Gulda on the "Bach for Book Lovers" CD and Sviatoslav Richter on his multi-CD set of the complete WTC. Moreover, I have heard it performed on piano and guitar and would normally welcome a performance on the harp. But Robles' performance is at a faster tempo than these others and sounds a bit rushed, not leaving one with the leisure to enjoy the beauty of the melody.

Two other less-than-satisfying tracks are the back-to-back extracts from Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin. I have the complete 2-CD set of these Sonatas and Partitas recorded by Henryk Szeryng and, aside from preferring Szeryng's performance to Gidon Kremer's, I find these two selections out of place on this CD. This compilation is supposedly for persons having a few friends over for a barbecue. While that may seem like an over-literal interpretation of the CD title, even the CD booklet includes three barbecue recipes: (1) Sebastian's Special Sauce; (2) Tender & Tangy Baby Bach Ribs; (3) Branden-Burger.

The partitas and sonatas for solo violin have a great and timeless beauty, but one that is generally stark and intense. Not that this CD should only have "Bach-lite" on it. In fact, track #13, Contrapunctus No. 9, from Art of the Fugue, and track #14, Fugue in G minor "The Great Fugue" BWV 542, are masterpieces of Baroque depth and complexity. At the same time, these performances by Neville Marriner and the ASMF and by the Suttgart Chamber Orchestra are engaging as well as complex, and draw the listener in. Such is not the case for the two solo violin tracks performed by Kremer, which ask for more intense concentration from the listener.

At least the Bouree from Partita No.1 has an upbeat, optimistic tone that is consistent with the other tracks on the CD; one might conceivably hear and enjoy it at a barbecue. But the next track, the Preludio from Partita No.3 for Solo Violin, seems more appropriate for a barbecue cut short by gathering storm clouds. This is a beautiful but somber piece that doesn't fit in well with the other 16 selections on this CD. Its mood is heavy, deep, and intense, and its beauty is dark and melancholy. One can only imagine what the people at Philips were thinking when they decided to put a selection like this on a CD entitled "Bach for Barbecue."

The peformances of the other selections by I musici, Pepe Romero, Andras Schiff, and the great Belgian violinist, Arthur Grumiaux, are wonderful. Recommended, with a couple of reservations.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invite Bach To Your Next Barbecue, September 27, 2005

By 

Rudy Avila "Saint Seiya" (Lennox, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bach for Barbecue: Grillin' and Chillin' with Johann Sebastian (Audio CD)

Johann Sebastian Bach may be dead and one may present the debate that his music is also dead (1600-1760) but this doesn't stop Bach from being the musical DJ at a first-rate barbecue. This title from the Set Your Life to Classical Music series is perfect background music for a most interesting and colorful summer barbecue, 4th of July barbecue or Labor Day barbecue. The music is so brilliantly played, vivid, lively and entertaining that it will pose no problem to anyone who appreciates good music. The celebrated ensemble I Musici, as well as guitarist Pepe Romero and violinist ARthur Grumiaux contribute to the overall beauty of this recording. Bach's individual style, which indeed does not compare to Handel or Vivaldi's, is strong in these musical pieces which include the danceable, festive Allegro from the Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, the Suite for Solo Cello, the Brandenburg Concerto 3's lively Allegro, Two Part Invention for Keyboard No. 1, Brandenburg Concerto 4 and 5's allegro movements, Partitas for Solo Violin, Fantasia and Fugue For Organ in G Minor, Violin Concerto No. 2 in E Major allegro and the CD closes with the Harpsichord Concerto No. 1 in D.

Particularly good are the Brandenburg Concerti, Keyboard and Violin pieces and the excellent interpretation of the Allegro movement of the Violin Concerto No. 2, which I've never heard sound better anywhere else. This is a fun, lively recording and a fine way to hook yourself or your friends into classical music. The dour-looking, highly religious Protestant Bach may not have himself attended barbecues, but surely he would be most pleased to know that his music is still beloved enough to suggested as a piece for background in a barbecue. I can't say enough good things about the Set Your Life To Classical Music Series. The cover art on these CD's are so cute, hilarious and witty and are the most perfect introduction to classical for young people. And for adults who would otherwise never hear classical.