Bach: Trauer-Music
Andrew Parrott is a master of musicological detective work known for his adventurous and uncompromising scholarship. He is also internationally known for his pioneering historically informed performances and recordings of pre-classical repertory. The score for Trauer-Music, written in 1728 on the occasion of the Prince’s sudden death at the age of 34, has almost completely disappeared, yet through the discovery of numerous clues in other works and writings, Parrott has been able to reconstruct what was clearly a heart-felt homage.
Reviews
‘Effortlessly lovely performances and a richly rewarding recording’ — Andrew McGregor, CD Review, BBC Radio 3, October 2011
‘With great nuance, rhetorical power and natural agility Emily Van Evera sings the three soprano arias — all of them from the Matthew Passion, two being the most plaintively expressive numbers from that work and the last an expansive plea for the end to grieving.’ — David Yearsley, www.counterpunch.org, April 2012
‘This recording is marvellous. Parrott paces everything beautifully, the soloists are inspired, and chorus and period musicians are totally up to snuff, with great sound a very informative set of program notes, including a detailed explanation by Parrott of how the work was reconstructed. So we can salute the entry of a “new” work into the Bach canon. Since the major part of the piece is culled from two of Bach’s greatest works, the result is of the highest quality from the Leipzig maestro. Highly recommend!’ — From ‘A “New” Work by Johann Sebastian Bach,’ Arthur S Leonard, www.artleonardobservations.com, October 2011
‘This recording is not simply a dry reconstruction of some lost music, but first-class Bach superbly played and sung…. There are no criticisms here. This is a marvellous album for neophyte Bach lovers as well as veteran listeners.’ — From editorial review by Craig Zeichner, www.ariama.com, January 2012