A delightful two record set, from Nonesuch, that I loved some 25 years ago but had somehow lost, in between moves, is my offering today. Rediscovered at the Goodwill a few months back, here are seven symphonies by the second youngest of the great J S Bach's sons, Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach. These works are played with great elan by the Cologne Chamber Orchestra under its conductor of some forty years, Helmut Muller-Bruhl. The recordings date from 1973-4.
J C F Bach is overshadowed by his more illustrious brothers C P E Bach, J C Bach and W F Bach. Perhaps much of this has to do with the fact that J C F spent the bulk of his creative life, out of the limelight, at the minor princely court of Buckeburg. Unlike, the internationally recognized, and well traveled, J C Bach, for example, J C F Bach was content to perform his functions as Konzertmeister and sometime composer in relative obscurity albeit with the occasional trip to Hamburg to visit with his older brother C P E, the successor to Telemann in that great Hanseatic city. C P E, of course, was considered one of the very greatest composers of the day.
The seven symphonies here date mainly from the late 1760's with the exception of number 20 which is from a couple decades later at the end of Bach's life. Comparing them to say, Haydn at that period, I would find them no less mature or inspired and representative of the best musical trends of that day. The symphonies are engaging and entertaining as that would be the expectation of courtly patrons and distinguished guests. These symphonies are worthy of the Bach name, less quirky then C P E's ouerve but not as cosmopolitan as the ones by younger brother J C, a musician who was heavily influenced by Haydn and Mozart and, recognized as their equal.
All in all, these lps make for delightful listening because the music is solid, well crafted and the performances are fresh.
DOWNLOAD PART 1
DOWNLOAD PART 2
DOWNLOAD PART 3
DOWNLOAD PART 4
