Bach's Orchestral Suites: EMS 18 August

[doversoul1]

Hannah French looks in depth at JS Bach's four orchestral suites, which play something of a Cinderella role to the Brandenburg Concertos. Though they are some of Bach's most festive works, they remain an incomplete set, never published, or even considered a collection in his lifetime. Basically, they are suites of dance-pieces in French Baroque style preceded by an ouverture. This genre was extremely popular in Germany during Bach's day, and he showed far less interest in it than was usual. Telemann left us with 135 examples, Graupner 85 and Fasch a neat 100, so why did such a prolific and accomplished composer as Bach shun the genre? Hannah delves into some of the many recordings of the pieces to find out.(R)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08c2n8h

Incidentally, you can listen again now.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b08c2n8h

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Play a Cinderella role to the Brandenburgs?

I think not!

[Padraig]

Nor I.

[Richard Barrett]

Play a Cinderella role to the Brandenburgs?

I think not!

Presto lists 131 recordings of the Brandenburg Concertos and 117 of the "orchestral" Suites so indeed not much difference there. What the silly blurb doesn't mention is that JS Bach wrote less instrumental ensemble music in any genre than Telemann, Graupner and Fasch.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Well, at least it didn't say they were the Ugly Sisters!

A nice preparation for the forthcoming Dunedin Consort Prom, too.