Bach improved numerous details in his concertos when gathering and copying them, a process similar to his work on the 'Great Eighteen Chorales' and The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2.
Performer Biography
The Bach Collegium Japan, founded in 1990 by Masaaki Suzuki, is known for its award-winning recordings of Bach's choral works and complete cantatas.
Composition History
Many of Bach's harpsichord concertos are transcriptions of earlier works originally written for other instruments.
Historical Context
The Collegium Musicum, an ensemble Bach invested much time in, consisted primarily of university students and performed weekly in a coffee garden or coffee house.
Composer Biography
J.S. Bach's interest in harpsichord concertos grew after he took over the directorship of Leipzig's Collegium Musicum in March 1729.
Cultural Impact
Bach's harpsichord concertos influenced his sons, who composed their own keyboard concertos, and this tradition reached Mozart through Johann Christian Bach.
Performer Biography
Masato Suzuki, the harpsichordist and conductor on this album, received his initial musical training from his parents and is the principal conductor of the Bach Collegium Japan.
