J.S.Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Harnoncourt) (vinyl: Miyajima, Graham Slee, CTC Classic 301)

[@sergiociomei1197]

May your beautiful soul rest in peace,dear Alice Harnoncourt. You have been one of the strongest source of inspiration for millions and millions of musicians and music lovers!! 20/7/22

[@notaire2]

Präzise und wunderschöne Interpretation dieses perfekt komponierten Konzerts mit seidigen Tönen aller genialen Solostreichinstrumente und perfekt entsprechenden Tönen anderer Instrumente. Der zweite Satz klingt besonders schön und auch lyrisch. Der unvergleichliche Dirigient leitet das ausgezeichnete Ensemble im gut phrasierten Tempo und mit perfekt kontrollierter Dynamik. Die Tonqualität ist auch ziemlich hoch als eine Aufnahme von mehr als fünfzig Jahren vor. Alles ist wunderbar!

[@fransmeersman2334]

Splendid and compelling performance of Harnoncourt of this magnificent "Brandenburger". Marvelous sound ! Thank you.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thanks for your comment! Brandenburg No. 4 from this set is here kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZeze6WpnL1-mqc

[@pablov1973]

Thank you for sharing this! It's my favorite performance of the No 6. Harnoncourt was one of the piooners on working with period instruments but he also played in the recording made by Horenstein with wainer soloist on 1954, he played the viola da gamba on that recording, and part of this can be listened on this performance: no crazy tempi like are the norm in this days, impecable entonation, wonderful phrasing, very clear articulation. The sound of your sistem is, as always, superb.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thank you for your comments, as always! I'm sensing that there is a lot of love out there for this set of the concertos. When I bought this set a few months ago I expected it to be good, but have been really impressed with every aspect of it!

[@r1p2m32]

A really subtle version... After some minutes -- I have to hear everything!

[@NothingLikeVinyl]

My favorites are #2 and #5, but all six Brandenburg Concertos are terrific works. Humanity owes a lot to J.S. Bach. Thank you one more time for a terrific recording, Bob!

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Hi Alvaro. I agree with everything you say here! I felt that No.6 was, perhaps, more overlooked than the others (at least by me!) as the lack of violins and any wind or brass mean it's not so flashy. But its dark hues are very attractive, and this is a great recording of it.

[@bkatbamna]

Just when I think your videos can't sound any better, you pull this out. Wonderful.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Ha! Thank you! This is a great sounding record and performance, isn't it?

[@alexandrezanol]

Sounding very good over here. And, whats more important, this is powerful and touching. Thank you so much

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thank you for your comments! It's a great performance and recording, isn't it?

[@MARTIN201199]

This is all I always wanted, a vi y, collection of classical music. SUBSCRIBED!

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thank you for your comment! The 4th Brandenburg Concerto from this set is coming here in a few days time ;o)

[@sergiociomei1197]

Thank you sooooooo much for posting this beautiful recording!! For me this is the best rendition ever of Brandeburg concerto n.6,even better than Harnoncourt's "remake" in the eighties!!! Kindest regards from Italy! Sergio

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thank you for your comments, Sergio! I haven't heard the remake, but this is a superb set, and No.6 was a revelation to me, having always rather dismissed it. More fool me, eh?

[@sergiociomei1197]

@@ClassicsAndVinyl Nooo,not a fool at all...I am a musician,and I know that a lot of colleagues of mine(who,like me,have performed the six Brandeburg Concertos in public) say that "the sixth" is the less powerful of the set!! The reason behind this verdict is that the sixth Brandeburg is the one and only real "chamber concerto" of the collection (the third is the other one which comes closer to the "chamber" category,but it sounds much more orchestral!). I think that this wonderful little gem needs a very carefully balanced performance,but without losing its drive and energy,and I think that mister Harnoncourt and his Concentus Musicus Wien convey a real joy of playing,and in the meanwhile they make EVERY line clearly hearable,in a delightful and spirited dialogue!! It's really incredible to discover what they achieved...in 1964!!! (correct me if I'm wrong,but this is probably the very first complete recording of the Brandeburg Concertos on period instruments!)

[@sergiociomei1197]

(sorry,I noticed that I've always written "Brandeburg",the Italian way 😂, Concerti Brandeburghesi!!)

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

@@sergiociomei1197 I'm not sure if this was the first period instrument recording of the concertos, but it is undoubtedly one of the best. I'm pleased I wasn't alone in underestimating the 6th - this performance certainly showed me its delights. The lack of violins gives it a darker tone, though not a darker character, and as you note Harnoncourt gets perfectly balanced playing from his musicians. A wonderful gem indeed! - greetings from the UK, by the way. Bob

[@lshin80]

Superb! Harnoncourt was very deep into researching these concertos. Any chance you'll upload no.4? 🙏

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

It's good isn't it! I will put No.4 on my to-do list for you ;o)

[@lshin80]

@@ClassicsAndVinyl Thanks! 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

@@lshin80 Here's No.4 ;o) kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZeze6WpnL1-mqc

[@michaelgoron4226]

Thanks for this channel. The sound here is really good, even through KZbin. Now I have some idea what high-end vinyl replay sounds like. And it is clearly better tonally than CDs/Digital. While my more modest setup sounds good with vinyl there isn't the same noticeable difference in quality. Do you clean the discs using a machine before recording? The surfaces are very quiet.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thanks for your comments! I usually try and chose LPs that have fairly quiet surfaces, but I've been using ultrasonic cleaning for a number of years now - this helps a lot!

[@northendroad]

Superb! I love the rhythmic energy of the 6th Brandenburg. Incidentally, I see you are now using a record clamp, do you find a sonic improvement and how convenient in use? I admit leaving my 401 running when placing and removing records.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thanks for your comments! Actually I always use the centre weight - except when filming, as I think it's nice to see the label (sad that I am). This disc - from a recently acquired second hand set - was fairly warped, so needed a bit of help. If I'm honest there's not a lot of obvious sonic benefit unless the disc is so warped it skips. The outer ring is a bit of a pain to use, even though it has a centering attachment. Mine was a lot cheaper than the Clearaudio or VPI items (from a German company no longer in business it seems) and I don't think it runs as true as the more expensive items (you get what you pay for!). However it does help flatten records.

[@northendroad]

@@ClassicsAndVinyl Thanks. Warped LPs I only encounter occasionally and not a major problem for all things vinyl. Most helpful to know you only use the clamp on problem records and not particularly worthwhile on a regular basis. Keep up the good work, most appreciated. I find your choices of uploads endlessly interesting.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

@@northendroad Thank you! I try to keep my choices varied - trying to please everyone all the time! Ha! (But no doubt failing . . . ;o)

[@nigelmasters8552]

Hi Bob, this is a lovely recording and apparently other people think so as well. I decided to see what the critics said in one of my review catalogues. They weren't so kind about it, giving only one star with reservations. I quote, "Generally temp are traditional, but here and there pacing is less convincing..." I paraphrase here. Do you have any other editions of this piece of music? As it happens I like this version. What do critics know!

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Hi Nigel. I have a couple of other sets of the Brandenburgs (not on vinyl though), the best of which is Trevor Pinnock with the English Concert on Archiv. From memory, tempi are a bit faster than Harnoncourt. This one certainly hits the sweet spot, though, for those who've commented so far! As you say - what do critics know ;o)