Bach: Trio Sonatas (in special arrangements) - BWV 525, 527 & BWV 1027–1029

Camerata Köln

CPO 777 359-2

This year the Camerata Koeln is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary, a milestone marking its unique status among all early music ensembles. The idea of its founders to perform old chamber music with a virtuosic command of the historical instruments, attention to all the stylistic criteria, and the greatest possible spontaneity, performance joy, and artistic independence has continued to be the hallmark of this ensemble, which has won repeated praise from the public and press. On its newest production the Camerata Koeln dedicates itself to sonatas by Johann Sebastian Bach, but none of the works is performed in original form on this CD. All of them are arrangements – and in a twofold sense. First, the versions by Bach are arrangements of his own works and the result of what in part was a long history of composition during the course of which the pieces were repeatedly transferred to other forms. Second, this CD presents Bach’s compositions in a performance form representing the Camerata Koeln’s own arrangement of Bach’s versions. The pieces have not been transmitted in this performance shape. It is very probable, however, that they correspond to an earlier, now lost version in their current instrumental dimensions as trio sonatas or at least come very close to this version. Enchanting pieces with an elegant instrumental combination!

CD x 1

CPO

8/25/09

761203735921