Bach: Goldberg Variations / Canadian Brass

$11.99
Label
Sony Masterworks
Release Date
January 11, 2000
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      BACH, JOHANN SEBASTIAN
    • PERFORMER
      Canadian Brass
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      January 11, 2000
    • UPC
      090266361021
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      09026636102
    • LABEL
      Sony Masterworks
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Chamber Music & Recitals
    Works ⌄

    1. Aria

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    2. Variatio 1. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    3. Variatio 2. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    4. Variatio 3. Canone all'Unisuono a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    5. Variatio 4. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    6. Variatio 5. a 1 o vero 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    7. Variatio 6. Canone alla Seconda. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    8. Variatio 7. a 1 o vero 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    9. Variatio 8. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    10. Variatio 9. Canone alla Terza. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    11. Variatio 10. Fughetta. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    12. Variatio 11. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    13. Variatio 12. Canone alla Quarta. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    14. Variatio 13. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    15. Variatio 14. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    16. Variatio 15. Canone alla Quinta. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    17. Variatio 16. Ouverture. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    18. Variatio 17. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    19. Variatio 18. Canone alla Sexta. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    20. Variatio 19. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    21. Variatio 20. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    22. Variatio 21. Canone alla Settima. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    23. Variatio 22. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    24. Variatio 23. a 2 Clav

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    25. Variatio 24. Canone all'Ottava. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    26. Variatio 25. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    27. Variatio 26. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    28. Variatio 27. Canone alla Nona. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    29. Variatio 28. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    30. Variatio 29. a 1 o vero 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    31. Variatio 30. Quodlibet. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass

    32. Aria da capo

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Ensemble: Canadian Brass


Non-keyboardists increasingly lay claim to Bach's Goldberg Variations on disc, from string trios and cimbalom duos, to guitar renditions and synthesizer blowouts. The challenge to both performers and arrangers is to render Bach's keyboard-specific textures with results that are technically plausible and musically convincing. A brass quintet arrangement by Arthur Frackenpohl, newly recorded by the Canadian Brass, succeeds on both counts--for the most part. The slower variations acquire an attractive ceremonial dimension in this medium, benefiting from a brass player's ability to change dynamics on a single note (which of course you can't do on piano or harpsichord). I also like how the double keyboard cross-handed variations are deployed to splendid antiphonal effect although the neccesarily slower tempos weaken Bach's original bravura intentions. Repeats are observed in each half of the opening Aria and a few select "A" sections elsewhere. "A" and "B" section da capos are respectively assigned to higher and lower instruments. The Canadian Brass achieve a blend that's akin to the dark smoothness of aged Scotch whisky, purring out rounded legato lines in which no breath seems to transpire. An electric blanket of resonance reinforces the ensemble's slick perfectionism, which probably will appeal more to brass fanciers than Bach lovers.

--Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com