TAFELMUSIK BAROQUE ORCHESTRA & DANIEL TAYLOR
Bach (Analekta)
Tafelmusik’s latest album from Montreal’s Analekta label, out since last October, deserves its Juno nomination as much for the quality of the interpretations as for the clever programming, which alternates two short sacred cantatas with instrumental pieces.
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
The album distinguishes itself for the easy spaciousness of the music. That’s quite a feat, since it takes a lot of practice and thought before the music of Bach can sound easy and relaxed.
What’s especially nice is how fresh details magically emerge from the orchestral parts with each spin of the disc. Recorded last spring at Toronto’s Humbercrest United Church, the sound is spacious without losing any detail.
Canadian countertenor Daniel Taylor, a regular Tafelmusik guest, sings the two most popular of the four sacred cantatas Bach wrote for alto solo, both dating from 1711: BWV 170, Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust (Happy rest, balm of the soul), and BWV 54, Widerstehe doch der Sünde (Hold Sin at bay).
Taylor’s rich voice and restrained singing are beautifully matched by the orchestra’s relaxed gait.
Music director Jeanne Lamon leads attractive performance of two instrumental works: the Suite in A minor for violin and strings, BWV 1067, and a C minor Concerto for oboe and violin, BWV 1060.
Both pieces are repurposed from other concertos (the first for two harpsichords, the second for two violins). The woodwind-string concerto shows off how the contrasting sounds of the violin and oboe (gorgeously played by John Abberger) complement each other.
The Suite, modeled on French Baroque style, includes a Polonaise movement. The piece is meant to be played with German restraint rather than the red-blooded abandon one would hear in real French music from the period.
The period-instrument orchestra finds a warmly pulsing heartbeat inside each movement and piece, without ever drawing too much attention to it. There are many rewarding hours of subtle pleasures to savour here.
For more information, audio samples and downloads, click here.
John Terauds
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
