Works for 2 Harpsichords

Johann Mattheson (Composer), Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (Composer), Johann Ludwig Krebs (Composer), Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Richard Egarr (Performer), Patrick Ayrton (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Richard Egarr, Patrick Ayrton
• Composer: Johann Mattheson, Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, Johann Ludwig Krebs, Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (February 15, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Globe
• ASIN: B00000HZA6
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,385,248 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sonata and Suite, for 2 harpsichords in G major: Sonata

2. Sonata and Suite, for 2 harpsichords in G major: Allemande

3. Sonata and Suite, for 2 harpsichords in G major: Courante

4. Sonata and Suite, for 2 harpsichords in G major: Sarabande

5. Sonata and Suite, for 2 harpsichords in G major: Gigue

6. Concerto (Sonata) for 2 harpsichords in F major, F. 10 (BR A12) (previously attrib. J.S. Bach, BWV Anh188): Allegro moderato

7. Concerto (Sonata) for 2 harpsichords in F major, F. 10 (BR A12) (previously attrib. J.S. Bach, BWV Anh188): Andante

8. Concerto (Sonata) for 2 harpsichords in F major, F. 10 (BR A12) (previously attrib. J.S. Bach, BWV Anh188): Presto

9. Concerto A minor: (Allegro)

10. Concerto A minor: Affettuoso

11. Concerto A minor: Allegro

12. Concerto for 2 harpsichords in C major, BWV 1061a: (Allegro)

13. Concerto for 2 harpsichords in C major, BWV 1061a: Adagio ovvero Largo

14. Concerto for 2 harpsichords in C major, BWV 1061a: Fuga

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine performances, February 14, 2007

By 

Claude Greenmount "semper ubi sub ubi!" (The Universe) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Works for 2 Harpsichords (Audio CD)

Two of the works featured here are fairly well known, JS Bach's concerto in C and Wilhelm Friedeman's Concerto in F. Both are concertos without orchestral accompaniment, so-called because of the scale and scope of the works. Both are over 20 minutes long, and both instruments are fully integrated into the texture of the work. Neither keyboard is subordinate to the other for any great length of time, and both equally share virtuoso material.
JS Bach's is, contrapuntally, the more substantial of the two, and more energetically charged throughout. WF Bach's work is more laid back in the first two movements (Allegro Moderato and Andante) but the closing movement (Presto) pits both keyboards against each other, passing rapid-fire motives back and forth interupted by occasional unison passages that give real dramatic weight to those phrases-- there is no unison writing in the first and second movements, so the opening unison of the third movment really stands out and grabs our attention.
The Krebs and Mattheson pieces are also interesting, especially the Mattheson Suite in G. Krebs' work is the most lightweight of the set, but still welcome.
The playing is very fine, and the ensemble very tight and well controlled. Tempo choice however, seem almost frantic in a couple of instances-- namely the two Bach works. The first movement of JS Bach's C-major Concerto seems nearly directionless, with no arc or shape, simply because of the overly brisk tempo chosen-- the energetic writing simply presented as streams of 16th notes wandering at will. The second movment, Addagio ovvero Largo, has real beauty however, and the closing fugue is energetic without being frantic.
To many people, the harpsichord is an instrument used to accompany singers or other instruments, and not a solo instrument, much less one to be doubled up (or tripled or quadrupled, as in the case of JS Bach's Concerto in a minor for four harpsichords), and this recording is a fine way to hear this rarely-heard music.