German Chamber Music Before Bach

Violinist Reinhard Goebel has long fought against the myth that Bach’s genius suddenly emerged, fully formed, from nowhere. Taking a two-pronged approach, Goebel explored the music of the wider Bach family, as well as looking in detail at the works of Johann Sebastian’s musical predecessors. Recorded in 1980, this pioneering survey of pre-Bach chamber music not only brings together the cream of the crop but treats these treasures as if they had indeed been composed by Bach himself. Phrasing, articulation, colour changes, speeds and ornamentation have all been painstakingly considered and are exquisitely executed. The tiny movements of Westhoff’s sonata, for instance, are turned into highly polished gems, while the opening “Ciaccona” of Buxtehude’s Sonata in B-Flat Major, BuxWV 273 is four minutes of pure joy. The album finishes with an utterly delightful and fresh performance of Pachelbel’s evergreen Canon and Gigue in D Major.