This recording of four of Bach's harpsichord concertos by the American Bach Soloists is greatly satisfying in its presentation of the music. The small ensemble of period string and woodwind instruments perfectly complements the harpsichord, and the recording's sound balances the soloists and ensemble excellently, for an immediate presence. Beyond that, however, the music is played with precision, and Jeffrey Thomas, music director, and harpsichordist Michael Sponseller give it equal measures of lively joyousness that isn't ...
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This recording of four of Bach's harpsichord concertos by the American Bach Soloists is greatly satisfying in its presentation of the music. The small ensemble of period string and woodwind instruments perfectly complements the harpsichord, and the recording's sound balances the soloists and ensemble excellently, for an immediate presence. Beyond that, however, the music is played with precision, and Jeffrey Thomas, music director, and harpsichordist Michael Sponseller give it equal measures of lively joyousness that isn't overly bright and respect that isn't profoundly serious. The final movement of BWV 1044 has some delightful moments of running harpsichord accompanied by warm, pizzicato strings. They also go so far as to use the exact, original titles for the concertos and movements (e.g., Concerto for harpsichord, flute, violin, strings and basso continuo, BWV 1044) rather than just "Triple" Concerto. Sponseller has an unruffled, flowing facility with the music; his cadenza in the first movement of...
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