Bach's orchestral suites typically begin with a French overture, which is the most compositionally elaborate part, followed by a varied sequence of dances and 'galantries'.
Interpretation
Il Fondamento, founded by Paul Dombrecht in 1989, aims to perform 18th and 19th-century music as it would have sounded in its original era, requiring extensive study of instruments and performance practices.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in Gijzegem, Belgium, in the chapel of the Cloister of the Sisters of St. Vincentius a Paulo, between April 14 and 18, 2010.
Performer Biography
Paul Dombrecht, the oboist and conductor, is considered an authority on historical instruments and the interpretation of 18th and 19th-century music.
Interpretation
This recording presents the original versions of Bach's four orchestral suites, featuring a solo violin instead of a flute in the 2nd Suite and omitting trumpets, timpani, and oboes from the 3rd and 4th Suites.
Composition History
Recent musicological research indicates that the trumpet, timpani, and oboe parts in Bach's 3rd and 4th Orchestral Suites were later additions and not present in the original versions.
Compositional Technique
The famous Air from Bach's 3rd Suite is not a dance but a character piece, stylistically referencing the Italian trio sonata and Arcangelo Corelli, with a solo violin melody over a bass ostinato.
