Bach: Notenbuchlein

Featuring

Koen Plaetinck
Johann Sebastian Bach
Christian Petzold
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

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Composer Biography

Johann Paul von Westhoff, an illustrious violinist whose six partitas were published in 1696, likely influenced Bach, as both musicians were associated with the Weimar court chapel in 1703.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Koen Plaetinck, the marimba player, believes that Johann Sebastian Bach's music is so immense and universal that the instrument and performer are almost unimportant.

Composition History

The 'Little Book of Anna Magdalena,' a collection of keyboard music for Bach's second wife, contains some popular pieces, though not all were composed by Bach himself.

Interpretation

Koen Plaetinck's approach to Bach's music is a quest for pure simplicity and subtlety, aiming to find the original power of the notes without personal additions.

Album & Artwork

The CD title, Notenbüchlein, refers to three keyboard music albums from Johann Sebastian Bach's family, one for his son Wilhelm Friedemann and two for his wife Anna Magdalena.

Composition History

Bach's 'Little keyboard book for Wilhelm Friedemann' was started in 1720 for private use and included early versions of inventions and preludes later used in the Well-tempered Clavier.

Historical Context

During the Baroque period, it was common to transcribe solo string compositions for keyboard, a practice Bach himself found legitimate, often playing his string sonatas on the clavichord.