Bach dedicated the six grand concertos to Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg on March 24, 1721.
Performer Biography
Isabelle Faust, a versatile musician, and Antoine Tamestit, a soloist who recorded Telemann works during the pandemic, were specifically sought out for this project due to their close musical friendship with the ensemble.
Composition History
The Brandenburg Concertos were rediscovered on April 20, 1849, by Siegfried Wilhelm Dehn, curator of the Royal Library in Berlin, after more than a century of obscurity.
Interpretation
The Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin chose to use a violone in G and a 16-foot double bass for the continuo, aiming for a less opulent but more transparent sound, reflecting practices in Bach's time.
Compositional Technique
The Fifth Concerto, BWV 1050, is considered to be the first keyboard concerto in music history, featuring a virtuoso harpsichord soloist.
Historical Context
Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg-Schwedt, the dedicatee, was an influential figure in Berlin and maintained his own Kapelle (chapel) with excellent musicians.
Compositional Technique
Each of the Brandenburg Concertos requires different instrumental forces and explores varying sonic possibilities, making them especially original.
