No one knew he would become the most famous ever. After four rounds of applications, Bach was reluctantly accepted for the demanding position of Thomas cantor in Leipzig. The city council wanted Georg Philipp Telemann, but he declined.
Johann Friedrich Fasch applied in round 2 with six others. Christoph Graupner was hired after round 3, but he too withdrew. And then there was Bach.
The originally four-piece baroque ensemble The Counterpoints by recorder player Thomas Triesschijn supplemented the instrumentalists for a roaring album with these four Thomas cantors, intended or not. For over an hour you will hear a wonderfully fresh approach to overtures and concerts. Telemanns Overture Suite vibrates with tinkling percussion and banging theorb strings.
Triesschijn’s alto recorder glows and sways in Fasch’s virtuoso Concert† Bach’s slow middle movement Concert BWV1053R the slightly undulating pulse and in the swingingly played corner parts has an impetuous energy.
We can count ourselves rich with this baroque ensemble.
The Counterpoints XL
Thomas Cantors in Dialogue
Classic
Challenge Records
What new music has been released and what do the experts think of de Volkskrant of them? Check out our music page with this week’s album, all reviews and the tracks of the week.