Bach: Orchestersuiten 3 & 4

The Ouverture of Orchestral Suite No.3 is a nice listening with a powerful Bach leading us into an important work, as I interpret it from the detail and richness of feelings, for him. In this case, when such a well-known piece is reviewed as is BWV 1068 Air and Gavotte I & II, we must place more attention on the particularities of the interpretation. The Air was so sweetly and precisely interpreted, with no abusive decor. Thoughtful sobriety. The Gavotte I & II are cheerfully and forcefully played. Well directed weaving of the different winds and strings sections.

Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal in das Reich Gottes eingehen is so strong. It conveys perfectly the hopeful struggle needed to arrive at God's Kingdom. I must say that I personally feel that this is one of Bach's most achieved pieces. The organ setting beautifully the self-absorbed atmosphere, with the trumpet's leading the harmonic melody, and the strings sustaining it all with small bursts of energy. The main theme reappearing just to set what is important and not let the listener astray.

Personally I did not enjoy particularly BWV1069 in Brilliant's CD1-4. I would rescue the emphatic Réjouissance, from the otherwise well-built Orchestral Suite 4.

La Stravaganza Köln, Andrew Manze
Christoph Lehmann, Organ

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Ouverture No.3	D	BWV 1068		3 trumpets, timpani, 2 oboes, strings and continuo
Sinfonia from Cantata BWV 146 Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal in das Reich Gottes eingehen
Ouverture No.4	D	BWV1069