Pieter Dirksen

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JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - SONATAS WITH VIOLA DA GAMBA AND HARPSICHORD

Vivaldi Concerti Cassandra Luckhardt, viola da gamba
Pieter Dirksen, harpsichord
Alfredo Bernardini, oboe & oboe d'amore

Etcetera KTC 1365 (April 2009)


Contents:

[1-3] Sonata in E minor BWV 528[a] - 9'40
for oboe d’amore, viola da gamba & continuo

[4-7] Sonata in G major BWV 1027 - 13'40
for viola da gamba & obbligato harpsichord

[8-11] Sonata in D major BWV 1028 - 14'15
for viola da gamba & obbligato harpsichord

[12-15] Sonata in D minor BWV 964 - 21'40
for harpsichord

[16-18] Sonata in G minor BWV 1029 - 15'05
for viola da gamba & obbligato harpsichord

[19] Nun komm der heiden Heiland BWV 660a - 3'47
for oboe, viola da gamba & continuo

total timing: 77:43


The backbone of this recording is formed by Bach's three marvellous Sonatas for viola da gamba and obbligato harpsichord, which in this instrumentation probably all stem from the early 1740s. The Sonata for harpsichord in D Minor, Bach's sole 'original' contribution to the genre, is a dazzling arrangement probably made in about the same period of the Sonata for solo violin BWV 1003 from 1720. The recording is completed by two world premiere recordings: my reconstruction of a unique Trio Sonata from Bach's Weimar period and a haunting Advent chorale arrangement in its supposedly original instrumentation. In such a way it also represents the first complete recording of Bach's chamber music with viola da gamba.


From the Reviews:

"Their playing is persuasive, featuring a rich tone from all instruments juxtaposed with nimble semiquavers. Equally compelling is Dirksen's performance of Bach's own sonorous transcription of his unaccompanied violin sonata in A minor, transposed down a 5th. [In a comparison of six recent recordings of the Gamba Sonatas] I favour Luckhardt and Dirksen who, for me, combine gesture, dynamic nuance and a strong sense of harmonic direction."
(Early Music, May 2010)

"Luckhardt, Dirksen en Bernardini hebben een schitterende cd gemaakt die meer is dan zomaar een nieuwe opname van Bachs Gambasonates."
(Klassieke Zaken)

"Diese nun erstmals rekonstruierte Sonate [1-3] ist wirklich wunderschön, vor allem in der spannenden und pulsierenden Aufnahme mit den drei oben genannten Ausnahmekünstlern. Aber auch alle andere Werke Bachs überzeugen vollkommen in der Ausführung durch diese Künstler. ... [Sie] haben ein ideales Team gebildet, um diese hervorragende Kompositionsvorlage in herrliche Musik zu verwandeln, bei der einfach alles richtig ist und richtig klingt."
(Toccata - Alte Musik Aktuell)


order at info@pieterdirksen.nl ( € 15,- + postage & packing)