Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Friedrich Händel were born in the same year, 1685, only a month apart and about 200 kilometers from each other.
Instruments
Violinist Lina Tur Bonet plays a Dom Nicolo Amati violin from Bologna, ca. 1740, and a René Groppe bow on this recording.
Historical Context
Despite the Thirty Years' War having ended decades prior, the German states in 1685 still suffered from profound fragility, with peasants dying from famine.
Composer Biography
Bach attempted to meet Händel twice, once in Halle by traveling from Köthen, and later by sending his son Wilhelm Friedemann, but both attempts failed.
Album & Artwork
The album is titled 'Bach · Handel An Imaginary Meeting' because the two composers, despite being contemporaries, never met in person.
Composer Biography
Händel sought his fortune abroad, settling in Italy and then England, while Bach was compelled to a more modest working life as a public servant.
Recording & Production
This recording is intended as a 'redress' or 'legitimate illusion' for listeners to imagine the meeting between Bach and Händel that never occurred.
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