Back to Bach

I’m staying with that old Reader’s Digest collection today. The first disc included the Brandenburg Concerto No.1 and it is interesting to think that, assuming I started with Disc 1, this may have been the first piece of classical music I had listened to.

I am thinking that is probably unlikely though…..

Of the Brandenburg Concerti this has to be my favourite thanks to the great horn part – it requires skills very different to the strength and stamina that you need for the likes of Wagner and Mahler and I used to thoroughly enjoy this style of playing.

It also has to be said that it is a bit easier to perform on a modern valved horn rather than the natural horn it was written for – and which is used in this recording. One fun technique is trying to cope with this part without the help of your valves…

Johann Sebastian Bach : Brandenburg Concerto No.1

Comments :

Stuart Bulmer

I recall that I did the Brandenburg No3 for either O level or A level, I can’t remember which, but I certainly remember the music which is not too dissimilar to No1.

George R McConnell

I’m no expert – and did not study them at any time – but I think that stylistically there is little difference. The differences are in the instrumentation. No.1 is (I think) the only one with a horn part.

Karen Whittingham

Stuart Bulmer i did one of them for for a level x

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