Classical

J. S. Bach
"Brandenburg Concertos 1-6 / Brandenburgische Konzerte"

"Brandenburg Concertos"
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by English Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by Benjamin Britten

"Concerto for Oboe, Violin and Strings in C minor"
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
with Tess Miller, Carmel Kaine
Conducted by Neville Marriner

"Concerto for Flute and Strings in G"
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
with William Bennett
Conducted by Neville Marriner

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.

CD1
01 - Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major BWV 1046 I. Allegro
02 - Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major, BWV 1046 II. Adagio
03 - Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major, BWV 1046 III. Allegro
04 - Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major, BWV 1046IV. Menuetto- Trio I
05 - Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major, BWV 1046V. Polacca- Trio II
06 - Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047 I. Allegro
07 - Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047 II. Andante
08 - Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047 III. Allegro assai
09 - Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048 I. Allegro
10 - Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048 II. Allegro
11 - Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049 I. Allegro
12 - Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049 II. Andante
13 - Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049 III. Presto

CD2
01 - Brandenburg Concertos No. 5 in D major, BWV1050 Allegro
02 - Brandenburg Concertos No. 5 in D major, BWV1050 Affettuoso
03 - Brandenburg Concertos No. 5 in D major, BWV1050 Allegro
04 - Brandenburg Concertos No. 6 in B flat major, BWV1051 Allegro
05 - Brandenburg Concertos No. 6 in B flat major, BWV1051 Adagio ma non Troppo
06 - Brandenburg Concertos No. 6 in B flat major, BWV1051 Allegro
07 - Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D minor, BWV1060 Allegro
08 - Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D minor, BWV1060 Adagio
09 - Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D minor, BWV1060 Allegro
10 - Concerto for flute and strings in G minor, BWV1056 Allegro
11 - Concerto for flute and strings in G minor, BWV1056 Largo
12 - Concerto for flute and strings in G minor, BWV1056 Presto

DL

On November 24, 1974, Nick Drake died in his sleep in Far Leys, England.
An insomniac, Drake had ingested an excess amount of Tryptizol, an anti-depressant, so that he could fall asleep. Next to his bed lay a copy of Albert Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus.
On his phonograph rest Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. Drake's body was found here, in his childhood bedroom.