J.C. Bach: Six Grand Overtures, Op. 18

Johann Christian Bach (Composer), William Boughton (Conductor), English Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: English Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: William Boughton
• Composer: Johann Christian Bach
• Audio CD (August 2, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nimbus Records
• ASIN: B0000037FE
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #663,542 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Symphony for double orchestra 'No. 26' in E flat major, Op. 18/1, CW C26 (T. 269/4): Spiritoso

2. Symphony for double orchestra 'No. 26' in E flat major, Op. 18/1, CW C26 (T. 269/4): Andante

3. Symphony for double orchestra 'No. 26' in E flat major, Op. 18/1, CW C26 (T. 269/4): Allegro

4. Overture: Lucio Silla, opera overture (symphony) for orchestra, CW G9ov (T. 270/1): Allegro assai

5. Overture: Lucio Silla, opera overture (symphony) for orchestra, CW G9ov (T. 270/1): Andante

6. Overture: Lucio Silla, opera overture (symphony) for orchestra, CW G9ov (T. 270/1): Presto

7. Symphony for double orchestra in D major Op. 18/3 (Overture: Endimione, second version), CW G15ov/b (T. 270/4): Allegro

8. Symphony for double orchestra in D major Op. 18/3 (Overture: Endimione, second version), CW G15ov/b (T. 270/4): Andante

9. Symphony for double orchestra in D major Op. 18/3 (Overture: Endimione, second version), CW G15ov/b (T. 270/4): Allegro assai

10. Symphony for orchestra 'No. 27' in D major, Op. 18/4, CW C27 (T. 270/7): Allegro con spirito

11. Symphony for orchestra 'No. 27' in D major, Op. 18/4, CW C27 (T. 270/7): Andante

12. Symphony for orchestra 'No. 27' in D major, Op. 18/4, CW C27 (T. 270/7): Presto

13. Symphony for double orchestra 'No. 28' in E major, Op. 18/5, CW C28 (T. 270/10): [Allegro]

14. Symphony for double orchestra 'No. 28' in E major, Op. 18/5, CW C28 (T. 270/10): Andante

15. Symphony for double orchestra 'No. 28' in E major, Op. 18/5, CW C28 (T. 270/10): Tempo di Minuetto

16. Symphony for orchestra in D major (arrangement of overture to Amadis de Gaule), Op. 18/6, CW XC1 (T. 271/3) (spurious): Allegro

17. Symphony for orchestra in D major (arrangement of overture to Amadis de Gaule), Op. 18/6, CW XC1 (T. 271/3) (spurious): Andante

18. Symphony for orchestra in D major (arrangement of overture to Amadis de Gaule), Op. 18/6, CW XC1 (T. 271/3) (spurious): Allegretto

19. Symphony for orchestra in D major (arrangement of overture to Amadis de Gaule), Op. 18/6, CW XC1 (T. 271/3) (spurious): Allegro

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid rendition of an early father of the modern symphony, February 18, 2004

By 

chefdevergue (Spokane, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: J.C. Bach: Six Grand Overtures, Op. 18 (Audio CD)

Johann Christian Bach is best known for being the youngest of Bach's sons, and is sometimes called the "English Bach." Beyond that, your average enthusiast of classical music knows little about him. However, he is an important figure in music. He was one of the most important influences on Mozart. In English music he bridges the span between Handel & Haydn, and was one of the premier composers in London for two decades. He also can be considered, alongside Haydn, one of the early fathers of the symphonic form.

The pieces on this disc are called overtures, but at that time the term overture & symphony could be considered interchangable. All of these overtures are in 3 movements, except for the 4-movement 6th. I suppose it is fitting to call them overtures because most (except #1 & #5) have a definite operatic quality to them, having been culled from Bach's various operas, written in the 1770's. The Overture #3 is particularly sublime and displays some remarkable harmonic sophistication.

Obviously, not a lot of people are listening to this disc, are probably wouldn't know JC Bach from a hole in the ground. If you think that Mozart developed his symphonic style in a vacuum on his own, think again. One encounter with JC Bach will quickly reveal at least part of Mozart's musical lineage.