(Originally Concert for Two Cembali and Orchestra in C Major)
J.S. Bach (arranged for four guitars by Ansgar Krause)
Les Productions D’Oz: Score and separate parts: 41, 15, 13, 16, and 16 pages respectively)
This concerto may have been written during his time in Köthen and is called Concerto for 2 Harpsichords. That version of the piece, composed in C major, was later supplemented by individual parts for strings and basso continuo and was then available in a second version as a double concerto with orchestra, which is where this latest edition originates from. Krause transposed this magnificent work to G major for four guitars. In this version, it gains a unique charm from the fact that two guitar duos perform with each other over many bars, and added elements are distinguished from each other by dashed lines or brackets, so that you can see the editorial changes.
Set in three movements, the opening Allegro immediately proves to be for the advanced players amongst you, written as much of it is, in continuous semi – quavers. All the four parts are for a dropped 6th to D and although much of the writing is single notes only (not all, as there are some chords in all the parts) this is certainly not for a player who hasn’t got full use of his guitar fingerboard.
The Adagio ovvero Largo is set in the relative minor and in great contrast to the first movement. The guitars really do come into their own here, as the emotive quality of the music is really brought out by our favourite instrument!
The final Fuga is marked Vivace is back n the home key and as one might expect Bach’s effortless writing comes to the fore here as the fugue theme is tossed around from one guitar to the next in the way that only Bach can achieve.
This is a stupendous work that a very good quartet or indeed, as suggested two equally good duos will have a great time playing, and any audience will enjoy the performance just as much. Fabulous!
Chris Dumigan
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