J.B.BACH Orchestral Suites. Freiburg Baroque Orchestra/Hengelbrock (Veritas) – INKPOT

VIRGIN VERITAS VER5 61485-2
[74:22] mid-price

How is the music? As with much Baroque music, it is instantly, recognizably Baroque. Looking for an original voice, I don’t really find one (another Baroqu-ish trait). Is it different from J.S.’s Orchestral Suites? Yes, actually. And did I enjoy these Orchestral Suites? Oh yes I did!

Bernhard’s Orchestral Suites (or Overtures) are mainly scored for a four-part string orchestra, and were much praised by his contemporaries. One wrote simply, “Johann Bernhard composed many attractive overtures, arranged in the Telemann manner”. Even more indicative of their quality is the simple fact that Johann Sebastian considered them worthy of performance and prepared individual parts of Suites Nos.1, 2 and 4 for his Leipzig orchestra. Sebastian’s son, Carl Philip Emanuel (1714-88), helped with the copying. It is through this spirit of “family support” that these wonderful Suites have survived today. [Info derived from the CD notes.]

As Baroque suites (orchestral or otherwise) go, the French element of dance is essential. But as the Telemannian remark above suggests, Bernhard also used the stylistic ingredients of the Italian concerto in these suites. You can hear this immediately in the Orchestral Suite No.1: there is an Italian energetic angularity either fused with or written next to episodes of French dance. The simple but very musical results themselves may have inspired Telemann and J.S. Bach, the latter of whom I think brought the Orchestral Suite genre to another high plane.

The Orchestral Suite No.1 in G minor is scored for string orchestra. After an assertively energetic Overture, there is a beautiful and meditative Air. The mood of confidence returns in the ensuing Rondeau, with its highly memorable themes. Then, names you don’t quite see in Sebastian’s Orchestral Suites appear: a courtly Loure, an urging Fantaisie and a spiritedly serious Passepied. I found the work very satisfying, demonstrating to aural perfection the serious but energetic key of G minor.

Oboes appear in the Orchestral Suite No.2 in G major, adding a trumpety presence to the finely-crafted Overture. Listen to how unobstrusively at 2’38”, a secondary singing theme, so brief yet effective, refreshes the quickly moving outer music. Fabulous. The Gavotte en Rondeau is first spritely skipping; then the Rondeau, picking up its companion’s theme, plays with it before returning it, “gavotte”. A solemn Sarabande (III) and a soothing Air: Grave (V) follows, with a solemn Sarabande in between and ending with hopping Gigue.

Back to a minor key goes the Orchestral Suite No.3 in E minor, scored for strings. The Overture gets really exciting after the obligatory slow intro. Listen to the interplay of the strings for its many interesting turns and details. There are two beautifully sad Airs here, matched by a philosophical Courante, ending confidently with another court-serious Gavotte en Rondeau.

In both the Third and Fourth Suites are more specifically “French” movements: the Les plaisirs: Vitement of the Third (with its staccato pa-pap-pum “William Tell” phrase), or the two merry Passepieds of the Fourth. The Orchestral Suite No.4 in D major is very French in character, sporting the ornamentation, turns and phrases you’ll find in, say, Rameau’s Orchestral Suites.

It opens with an Overture that bursts into tutti fanfare frequently – I wonder why Bernhard didn’t include trumpets (and the Suite is already conveniently in D!). There are three lively Caprices in this Suite, plus a very French Marche (i.e. more show than militant). Even more French is the Air: Lentement, sentimental and perfumed. I did not hear the bassoon in these performances until La joye, where it takes centrestage with the oboes. The triumphant Caprice III brings this 74’22” disc to a close.

The Freiburg Baroque Orchestra under Thomas Hengelbrock play everything like they know it from heart, and are enjoying every minute of this music. The recorded sound is gorgeous and immediate. Made in 1990-1, I wonder why it took Virgin so long to issue/reissue this wonderful collection. Three cheers to the Bach family!

CHIA HAN-LEON left all his suitehearts in the 18th century.

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249: 26.7.1998 Chia Han-Leon

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