Episodes

SeriesEpisodeFirst
Broadcast
Comments
20090120090511Donald Macleod explores Bach's ten years in Weimar, where he became court organist and concertmaster. He looks at Bach's arrival there, and how he coped with the 'lowly' position alongside 12 other joint servants.

Erschallet, ihr Lieder - Opening chorus (Cantata, BWV 172)

Emma Kirkby (soprano)

Michael Chance (countertenor)

Charles Daniels (tenor)

Peter Harvey (bass)

The Purcell Quartet

CHACONNE CHAN 0752 CD1, Tr 1

Trio super Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend, BWV 665

Hans Fagius (organ of the Kristine Church, Falun)

BIS CD235 CD1, Tr 5

Concerto in C for three harpsichords, BWV 1064

Robert Woolley, Laurence Cummings, John Toll (harpsichords)

CHANDOS CHAN 0611, Trs 1-3

Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund, BWV 621; Hilf, Gott, dass mir's gelinge, BWV 624; Erstanden ist der heil'ge Christ, BWV 628 (Orgelbuchlein)

Simon Preston (organ of Soro Abbey)

DG 4318162, Trs 23, 26, 30

Kyrie, BWV 233

Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir

Ton Koopman (director)

ANTOINE MARCHAND CC72222 CD2, Tr 1

Toccata and Fugue, BWV 540

Ton Koopman (organ of Arp Schnitger, Hamburg)

TELDEC 0630173692, Trs 2-3.

Donald Macleod on Bach's arrival in Weimar, and how he coped with his 'lowly' position.

20090220090512Donald Macleod explores Bach's ten years in the city of Weimar, where he was court organist and concertmaster.

Donald describes how the composer's strategy for promotion unfolded as he travelled to Halle under the guise of an advisor for an organ restoration, leaving an exasperated courier and a hefty bar bill in the process.

Sinfonia, BWV 1046a

The Parley of Instruments

Roy Goodman (director)

HYPERION CDA66169, Tr 1

Organ Concerto in C, BWV 595 (after Prince Johann Ernst)

Wolfgang Rubsam (organ)

NAXOS 8550936, Tr 6

Toccata for keyboard, BWV 914

Pierre Hantai (harpsichord)

VIRGIN 545284-2, Trs 13-16

Chorale Prelude: Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier, BWV 633

Simon Preston (organ)

DG 4318162, Tr 35

Cantata: Himmelskonig, sei willkommen, BWV 182

Yumiko Kurisu (soprano)

Yoshikazu Mera (countertenor)

Makoto Sakurada (tenor)

Peter Kooy (bass)

Bach Collegium Japan

Masaaki Suzuki (director)

BIS CD791, Trs 17-24.

How Bach's strategy for promotion unfolded as he travelled to Halle.

20090320090513Donald Macleod explores Bach's ten years in the city of Weimar, where he was court organist and concertmaster.

Donald describes a boast at the breakfast table which saw Bach come unstuck as he tried to dazzle a friend with his sight-reading at the keyboard. Nevertheless, the composer's decade at the ducal court in Weimar also saw him reach new heights as a chamber musician.

Fugue for Violin, BWV 1026

Elizabeth Wallfisch (violin)

Richard Tunniclifffe (cello)

Paul Nicholson (harpsichord)

HYPERION CDD22025, Tr 1

Toccata, Adagio and Fugue, BWV 564

Ton Koopman (organ)

ARCHIV 423 200-2, Trs 4-6

Cantata, BWV 54

Andreas Scholl (countertenor)

Orchestra of Collegium Vocale

Philippe Herreweghe (conductor)

HARMONIA MUNDI HMC901644, Trs 6-8

English Suite No 5, BWV 810

Christophe Rousset (harpsichord)

AMBROISIE AMB9942 CD2, Trs 14-19.

Donald Macleod describes how Bach reached new heights as a chamber musician in Weimar.

20090420090514Donald Macleod explores Bach's ten years in the city of Weimar, where he was court organist and concertmaster.

He describes how the composer was experimenting with some foreign musical ingredients when a court prince returned from a trip to the Netherlands with an unusual collection of holiday souvenirs.

Vivaldi: Concerto, Op 3, No 12 (excerpt)

Europa Galante

VIRGIN VMD5453152, Tr 20

Keyboard Concerto, BWV 976 (after Vivaldi)

Olivier Baumont (harpsichord)

ERATO 3984255042, Trs 1-3

Cantata: Der Himmel lacht! die Erde jubilieret, BWV 31

Barbara Schlick (soprano)

Kai Wessel (countertenor)

Guy de Mey (tenor)

Klaus Mertens (bass)

Amsterdam Baroque Chorus and Orchestra

Ton Koopman (director)

CHALLENGE CLASSICS CC72201 CD3, Trs 1-9

Prelude and Fugue after Albinoni, BWV 951

Masaaki Suzuki (harpsichord)

BIS CD1037, Trs 13-14

Piece d'orgue, BWV 572

Rainer Oster (Arp-Schnitger organ of St Jacobi Hamburg)

ARTE NOVA 74321 63644 2, Tr 7.

Donald Macleod describes how Bach experimented with some foreign musical ingredients.

200905 LAST20090515Donald Macleod explores Bach's ten years in the city of Weimar, where he was court organist and concertmaster.

Donald looks at the composer's eventful final years at the ducal court, when his manoeuvres to secure a new job landed him in Weimar's prison for a brief spell.

Prelude (Suite in E minor, BWV 996)

Kim Heindel (lautenwerk)

KINGDOM KCLCD 2020, Tr 10

Cantata: Komm, du susse Todesstunde, BWV 161

Matthew White (alto)

Hans Jorg Mammel (tenor)

Collegium Vocale

Philippe Herreweghe (conductor)

HARMONIA MUNDI HMC901969

Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue, BWV 903

Christophe Rousset (harpsichord)

OISEAU LYRE 433 054-2, Trs 16-17

Preludes and Fugue in B (The Well-Tempered Clavier), BWV 868

Till Fellner (piano)

ECM ECM 4760482 CD2, Trs 21-22

Toccata and Fugue, BWV 538

Woolfgang Rubsam (organ)

Philips 420860-2 CD1, Tr 13.

Donald Macleod explores Bach's eventful final years at Weimar's ducal court.