Bach: Italian Concerto, French Overture, 4 Duets, Capriccios

Featuring

Mahan Esfahani
Johann Sebastian Bach

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Composition History

The two Capriccios (BWV992 and BWV993) are likely J. S. Bach's earliest works, with BWV993 dedicated to his elder brother, Johann Christoph Bach, who taught him.

Composer Biography

Under his elder brother Johann Christoph's supervision, the young J. S. Bach studied keyboard instruments and encountered works by composers like Frescobaldi, Froberger, and Pachelbel.

Recording & Production

The harpsichord used on this album was built by Jukka Ollikka in Prague in 2018, based on theories and examples by Michael Mietke, with some modern additions.

Compositional Technique

The Italian Concerto demands considerable agility from the player, requiring quick reflexes to navigate transitions between the two manuals of the harpsichord.

Compositional Technique

In the Italian Concerto and French Overture, Bach's use of 'f[orte]' and 'p[iano]' markings acknowledges the sonic and expressive capabilities of the large double-manual harpsichord, a recent arrival in his time.

Composition History

The Capriccio in B flat major, BWV992, is titled 'on the departure of his beloved brother' in the Möllersche Handschrift, possibly alluding to his younger brother Johann Jakob joining the Swedish military in 1704.

Composer's Artistic Vision

J. S. Bach's Clavier-Übung series, which includes the Italian Concerto and French Overture, uses familiar genres to mask provocative musical meanings.