There are many top-flight recordings of Bach's orchestral suites, small-orchestra distillations of the dance suites that originated in the splendor of the French courts. You can get everything from symphony orchestra versions to historical-instrument readings in a variety of styles, moods, and ensemble sizes. Conductor Sigiswald Kuijken's group La Petite Bande is small (hey, truth in advertising) but not obnoxiously so; the four violins are not drowned out when the trumpets and winds and timpani get going. Kuijken combines ...
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There are many top-flight recordings of Bach's orchestral suites, small-orchestra distillations of the dance suites that originated in the splendor of the French courts. You can get everything from symphony orchestra versions to historical-instrument readings in a variety of styles, moods, and ensemble sizes. Conductor Sigiswald Kuijken's group La Petite Bande is small (hey, truth in advertising) but not obnoxiously so; the four violins are not drowned out when the trumpets and winds and timpani get going. Kuijken combines a bright, sweet string sound--unusually so for historical instruments--with the agility and transparency a small group makes possible. Many details of orchestration come through; sample the totally fresh and varied Air from the Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068 (the so-called Air on a G string). The result is a very lively, graceful rendition of these suites from a conductor who can be unnecessarily reserved at times. The sound environment of the Begijnhof Church in Sint Truiden,...
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