Bach for Brass
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Johann Sebastian Bach
Label: DG
Magazine Review Date: 5/1989
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 59
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 423 988-2GH

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Preludes and Fugues, Movement: Prelude (Toccata) and Fugue in D minor, 'Dorian', BWV538 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Läubin Brass Ensemble |
Preludes and Fugues, Movement: Prelude and Fugue in G, BWV541 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Läubin Brass Ensemble |
Preludes and Fugues, Movement: Prelude and Fugue in E flat, BWV552 (from Clavier-I) |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Läubin Brass Ensemble |
Orgel-Büchlein, Movement: Jesu, meine Freude, BWV610 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Läubin Brass Ensemble |
Orgel-Büchlein, Movement: Vater unser im Himmelreich, BWV636 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Läubin Brass Ensemble |
Clavier-Übung III, Movement: Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist, BWV671 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Läubin Brass Ensemble |
Canzona |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Läubin Brass Ensemble |
(Die) Kunst der Fuge, '(The) Art of Fugue' |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer |
(18) Chorales, 'Leipzig Chorales', Movement: Nun danket alle Gott, BWV657 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Läubin Brass Ensemble |
Author: John Duarte
Bach never heard his music played in this way but it is hard to imagine that he would have found the experience unacceptable. The original works from which this programme is drawn are all instrumental and, since the essence of the music is in the lines and their interplay, there is no obvious reason why they should not be entrusted to the matched sounds of a brass ensemble. Indeed, as the annotator points out, no particular instrument(s) is/are specified in the case of Die Kunst der Fuge, so these items cannot even be termed arrangements; the rest are taken from the organ works.
The Laubin Brass Ensemble, impeccably accurate in all respects, makes a majestic (if minimally varying) sound, a finely balanced fabric in which each individual thread is easily traceable if one so chooses. Articulation is consistently clean but the judicious use of a little slurring might have helped to bring more variety and shape to the lines; it is unavailable on a keyboard but it is wholly idiomatic to wind instruments. This is a very acceptable and revealing way of listening to this music and even if you are not a brass enthusiast you may care to add BWV541, 598 and 631 to your Bach stock, for there is no other present recording of them on CD—and this one is lifelike in the extreme.'
The Laubin Brass Ensemble, impeccably accurate in all respects, makes a majestic (if minimally varying) sound, a finely balanced fabric in which each individual thread is easily traceable if one so chooses. Articulation is consistently clean but the judicious use of a little slurring might have helped to bring more variety and shape to the lines; it is unavailable on a keyboard but it is wholly idiomatic to wind instruments. This is a very acceptable and revealing way of listening to this music and even if you are not a brass enthusiast you may care to add BWV541, 598 and 631 to your Bach stock, for there is no other present recording of them on CD—and this one is lifelike in the extreme.'
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