Kay Johannsen

These are thrilling performances of Ives’ challenging choral works by the leaders of modern choral interpretation – the SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart. These are visionary works and the only recordings currently available. This is a sonically thrilling and valuable recording for all fans of the choral and vocal arts and of 20th century music.

The discrepancy between virtuosity, artistry and genius on the one hand and the reality of the musical profession on the other has probably never been more aptly expressed than in the Arnstadt church council´s criticism of the young Johann Sebastian Bach:" He confuses the congregation." He confused them with his chorale arrangements full of brilliant and ingenious ideas and his free organ works. Fortunately, posterity mostly sees Bach in quite a different light than his immediate contemporaries!

With his 6 Sonatas á 2 Clav: et pedal, Johann Sebastian Bach took up the great tradition of the Baroque triosonata. Bach only rarely retained the customary scoring of two solo instruments and thoroughbass. He was the first and only composer of the Baroque era to write triosonatas for one solo instrument (violin, flute, gamba) and obbligato harpischord; the latter instrument was given a melody part in the right hand and a bass part in the left. As usual with Bach, his treatment of traditional forms was creative and original.