Bach: Brandenburg Concertos no 1-4 / Britten (Penguin Music Classics Series)

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The author essays found in the Penguin Music Classics collection are always an interesting read. For instance, in his liner notes for the Brandenberg Concertos, Douglas Adams describes how Bach's music is always distinguishable, no matter how experimental the instrumentation--from steel drum to nose flute. Bach, he asserts, "is pure music." The irony here, of course, is that the recording paired with Adams insight is anything but groundbreaking--there's not a nose flute, melodica, or bongo in sight. In fact, it's solid as a rock. Benjamin Britten leads the English Chamber Orchestra through these compositions and, though recorded in 1968, this disc definitely stands the test of time. Filled with modern instruments, this is a straightforward, and accurate, interpretation of the baroque masterpiece. --Jason Verlinde

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: ll Adagio
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: lll Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: lV Menuetto: Trio l
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: V Polacca: Trio ll
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 In F Major, BWV 1047: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 In F Major, BWV 1047: ll Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 In F Major, BWV 1047: lll Allegro assai
Brandenburg Concerto No.3 In G Major, BWV 1048: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.3 In G Major, BWV 1048: ll Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Major, BWV 1049: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Major, BWV 1049: ll Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Major, BWV 1049: lll Presto

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major, BWV 1050: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major, BWV 1050: ll Affettuoso
Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major, BWV 1050: lll Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: ll Adagio ma non Troppo
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: lll Allegro
Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D Minor (from BWV 1060): l Allegro
Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D Minor (from BWV 1060): ll Adagio
Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D Minor (from BWV 1060): lll Allegro
Concerto For flute And Strings In G Minor (From BWV 1056): l Allegro
Concerto For flute And Strings In G Minor (From BWV 1056): ll Largo
Concerto For flute And Strings In G Minor (From BWV 1056): lll Presto

Amazon.com

Benjamin Britten's Bach is a "middle-of-the-road" version of these delightful works. They offer no startling departures from the Baroque style favored in the 1960s, but are ripe, polished performances with a fearless trumpet soloist in No. 2, and outstanding flute and violin solos throughout. Modern instruments and moderate tempos may seem stodgy these days, but there's integrity in Britten's music-making and this set, recorded in 1968, still sounds fresh, easily holding its own against more recent versions. As an added attraction, London includes concerti for violin and oboe, and flute and strings, both done in the 1970s with Neville Marriner leading light and springy readings of distinction. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Bach for Aristocrats.......2007-07-08

Britten's Brandenburgs are not hell-bent for leather, nor "historically informed", but very well-played in a grand and stately manner suggestive of a great composer respectfully conducting the work of another from a different era. The remastered analog recording from 1969 is excellent with a warm bloom surrounding the intimate soundscape.

I play these for a change-up on music that can become overly familiar, but that almost no one doesn't like at least once in a while.

ladida, ladida.......2007-03-09

Why is it that French horns can never play in tune with each other or the rest of the orchestra? Why, Why, Why!? If not for the french horns, this would be a very nice recording. These concertos are much cooler with the original instumentation, tho.

Authentic - In The Sense of True Authenticity.......2005-03-28

I am often bothered by those that think baroque music must be played on period instruments, and likewise by those that choose Mozart and Beethoven to be played in "authentic" means as well. Yes, the time period instruments do provide a different sound, but isn't music about the life that comes from the music, not the means of making the music? Music moves us not because we hear a strad or period orchestra wonderfully vibrating, but because we connect with the lines and melody of the sound being produced. These performances tastefully render the Brandenburg Concertos. They might not be sprightly, hold down Bach's instructions to a tee, or be played on period instruments, but they do convey Bach's written notes with wit and integrity, and with Bach especially, that's really all that is necessary for a moving performance. Let the music speak for itself, and stand alone - and in my opinion, that's all that is necessary here to create a wonderful effect.

Excellent Bach.......2004-07-02

Benjamin Britten and the English Chamber Orchestra do an excellent job of bringing out the "baroqueness" or the brandenburg concertos. I especially enjoyed the 6th concerto (what viola player wouldn't?), but I thought the 1st movement was a little slow, and a bit too legatoish, but i loved it none the less. The 3rd con. was also nice (3 viola parts- yeah!). I also liked the bonus flute and violin/oboe concertos. The flute concerto (origianally a harpsichord concerto and then a violin concerto) does have some shloops in the 1st and 3rd movements, in which case i prefer it being preformed on violin.

Overall, an outstanding recording that i highly recommend!!!!!!

Good modern recording.......2004-06-14

Some would say this recording isn't authentic because it uses modern instruments rather than period instruments. However, the English Chamber Orchestra is a wonderful ensemble, and Britten shows a real understanding for Bach's music. They create a very good Baroque sound with their modern instruments.

There are some movements (mvt 1 of concerto 1, mvt 2 of concerto 3, for example) that sound a bit heavy, either because of tempo or the intrumentation. They don't have the light, lively sound I think Bach intended.

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No. In F Major BWV 1046: I. Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. In F Major BWV 1046: II. Adagio
Brandenburg Concerto No. In F Major BWV 1046: III. Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. In F Major BWV 1046: IV. Menuetto: Trio I
Brandenburg Concerto No. In F Major BWV 1046: V. Polacca: Trio II
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major BWV 1047: I. Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major BWV 1047: II. Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major BWV 1047: III. Allegro assai
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major BWV 1048: I. Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major BWV 1048: II. Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major BWV 1049: I. Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major BWV 1049: II. Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major BWV 1049: III. Presto

Amazon.com

The author essays found in the Penguin Music Classics collection are always an interesting read. For instance, in his liner notes for the Brandenberg Concertos, Douglas Adams describes how Bach's music is always distinguishable, no matter how experimental the instrumentation--from steel drum to nose flute. Bach, he asserts, "is pure music." The irony here, of course, is that the recording paired with Adams insight is anything but groundbreaking--there's not a nose flute, melodica, or bongo in sight. In fact, it's solid as a rock. Benjamin Britten leads the English Chamber Orchestra through these compositions and, though recorded in 1968, this disc definitely stands the test of time. Filled with modern instruments, this is a straightforward, and accurate, interpretation of the baroque masterpiece. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

Eloquent performances!.......2005-12-21

I will keep optimistic waiting for Deutsche Gramophone surprises us the next year with the releases of the formidable performances of Karl Haas in the early Fifties. I still own a sample of these golden recordings, pitifully very damaged in vinyl acetate.

But if I was requested for the other optional versions I would have to mention just four in this rigorous order: Casals Marlboro of the middle Fifties; this lovable set directed by Britten, Müchinger Munich, Nikolaus Harnoncourt set in the late Eighties, and finally the hyper romantic version of Menuhin Bath Festival.

A personal advise: Go to Amazon UK and search the double pack imported from Germany that includes the complete set. The sound is excellent and the spirit and commitment will amaze you

Incomparable!.......2004-10-16

By far one of the greatest interpretation and recording of Bach's Brandenburgs. My favorite right after the Klemperer EMI recordings. Britten and the English Chamber Orchestra totally understand these pieces and they play with pure joy in their hearts!

But get the Double-Decca...you'd want all 6 of them to live with!

Stunning! The Standard to Compare Against. A Classic.......2004-01-24

Stunning! Bach's brilliant and beautiful Brandenburg Concertos still amaze me after hearing them so many times. They are, without question, masterpieces. Bach realized music that transcends our normal definition of music. Just listen to the CD.

Of all the versions I have heard and/or own of the Brandenburg Concertos, this CD is the best of the first four concertos. It is the standard to compare against. That is why it has been chosen as a Penguin Classic. MUST HAVE!

The crispness, mood, and overall sound are sublime. The virtuoso playing is masterful. And the pieces are legendary. Everyone should own this CD.

No--we've come a long way, baby........2003-12-06

When this recording was made in the late 1960s, the "original performance practice" movement was just getting its start. Most of the musicians in original instrument orchestras were more musicologist than musician, so at the time, authentic performances were either too dogmatic or downright bad.

When it was done, this recording was perhaps the best performance ever done of the Brandenburgs. But the authentic performance movement matured, authentic instrument players got to be as good as their modern instrument counterparts, and in the meantime, we have learned more about the Brandenburgs in the last 30 years than in the entire time since these peices were written.

This means that MODERN instrument performances have also come a long way.

The Best modern instrument performance is by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, on Delos. The individual musicians on that recording are all amazing, from Ani Kavafian to Edgar Meyer.

After Hearing Lincoln Center's, this recording sounds heavy, hokey, imprecise. Especially the harpsichord (harpsichord manufacture has also come aeons since the 1960's--the one on this recording sounds ABSOLUTELY horrid--and take it from me, I'm a harpsichord builder and player). In particular, some instruments on this recording have weaknesses, the balance is often not very good, and ornamentation is wildly inconsistent.

once again, bach gives me audial pleasure.......1998-11-29

bach really pleased me with this compact disc. i was not completely sure of how my compact disc player would like this, but once i stuck it in, everyone was amazed at the speed and power of bach's performance. after 20-odd cd's of who knows what bach relieved us all. the party was a success. the social drinking was obviously beneficial, for it made the event even more memorable. the power of the cd was unbelievable, it was so intense that i started to take off my jacket. but once i got the jacket off, the heat of his work didnt get to me as much despite the lost articles of clothing, i liked it. but i suggest if you are going to get this cd, make sure you have protection from the heat.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

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