Hansjoachim Kaps - Berliner Gitarrenensemble - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Philharmonia Quartet Berlin - String Quartett [COMPACT DISCS] date 03/22/2004

The six Sonatas, which are often described as 'Trio Sonatas for Organ,' hold a unique place in Bach's oeuvre. In a sense, 'trio' is the most natural organ texture right hand, left hand, and feet each takes one line of counterpoint. However, in the six Sonatas, the contrapuntal lines are granted a degree of independence that is unmatched in Bach's surviving organ music. Thus, they are atypical of Bach's output for the instrument, and indeed of organ music in general. The Sonatas are, in effect, 'ensemble music for one player' - indeed, several movements originated as actual ensemble pieces. To Bach's contemporaries, this transplanting of the secular, instrumental trio sonata genre onto the organ would have seemed rather daring. After all, the organ was, first and foremost, a liturgical instrument, with it's own venerable repertoire tradition.

Moritz Benjamin Kolb writes InchWe first placed the sheet music of Purcell´s fantasias on our music stands at a time when we were principally working on Mendelssohn's last quartet, immersed in his dark spiritual mood. We played the first bars of one of the fantasias on a whim, perhaps subconsciously wishing to find a light-hearted contrast to what we were working on. The incredible beauty and clarity of the music took hold of us straight away, in a way that no other music had affected us till then. Our faces brightened up and we knew that these gems would stay with us. From then on, we began each rehearsal with one of the fantasias. This new light was rather like an awakening for us. We began to include the fantasias in our concert programmes. As a result of the enthusiastic audience reaction and our collaboration with the wonderful Richard Gwilt we decided, over time, that we would take possession of these works. As a result, the contrast between light and dark on this recording is something very personal. We are very happy about this and grateful.Inch