Bach's Six Trio Sonatas, BWV 525-530, were originally written as practice works for his son Wilhelm Friedemann (b.1710) when Wilhelm was learning the organ. Here they are completely reimagined and transformed into colourful, expressive, instrumental chamber works. It was Bach himself who founded the tradition of transcribing his own music for varying instrumental groupings. Robert King has arranged and adapted these six works to involve a wide range of instrumental colours. Five melody instruments (two violins, viola, oboe, and oboe d'amore) create a variety of instrumental colours, underpinned by a similarly diverse continuo accompaniment of cello, theorbo, harpsichord and chamber organ. An outstanding group of instrumentalists brings a deliciously intimate and conversational quality to Bach's music, quite different to that achieved at the organ. Across six varied sonatas, the resultant rich harmonic and instrumental palette presents virtuoso playing that showcases Bach's melodic and harmonic genius. Engineer David Hinitt and the fine acoustic of Alpheton New Maltings create a recording of exceptional clarity and warmth. Extensive presentation includes 32 page booklet with liner note in three languages by Robert King plus four pages of session photos and reproductions of two of Bach's manuscripts.
