Of Johann Sebastien Bach’s many children, three were composers of genius – C.P.E, J.C and W.F. Wilhelm Friedrich remains the least understood, least known, and was possibly the most gifted of the three. He studied under his father, and it is thought that the Goldberg Variations were composed to show of his eldest son’s keyboard virtuosity. W.F was however a restless soul, who eventually abandoned music altogether. In 1750 it was W.F who managed his father estate after his death, and he had to sell off his father’s manuscripts to settle debts.
His life was one of disorder, and although he managed to obtain several good positions, he fell into poverty, and ill health followed. It is possible that his last pupil was Sarah Itzig Levy, great aunt of Felix Mendelssohn.
The cantatas on these discs contain some of W.F’s most forward looking and vocally demanding music. Firmly based upon the examples of his father’s cantatas (which W.F performed regularly) they are a strange and unique mix of the old fashioned and the new ‘Sturm und Drang’. In places the sound world of the young Haydn can be heard, in others the voice of J.S Bach sounds clearly. W.F’s music is of the highest quality and like his brothers, it spans the transition from the baroque to the galant classical style.
Other information:
- Booklet note and sung texts included.
- Recording made in 1991 in association with WDR Cologne
- Wilhelm Friedemann Bach is nowadays deservedly recognised as perhaps the most talented and innovating son of the great Johann Sebastian.
- “What of the performances? Well, for the most part they are excellent, discovering with eloquence and stylistic assurance the multifarious details and subtleties of Friedemann Bach's skill in this medium. The four soloists are first-rate with Barbara Schlick and Wilfried Jochens qualifying for special mention…Very strongly recommended” (Gramophone, November 1994)
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Lasset uns ablegen die Werke der Finsternis (Let us Cast off the Works of Darkness), Cantata for the First Sunday of Advent, for alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, traverse flute, two oboes,strings and basso continuo: Chorus: Lasset uns ablegen die Werke der Finsternis
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Lasset uns ablegen die Werke der Finsternis (Let us Cast off the Works of Darkness), Cantata for the First Sunday of Advent, for alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, traverse flute, two oboes,strings and basso continuo: Recitative: Es ist nun hohe Zeit (Alto)
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Lasset uns ablegen die Werke der Finsternis (Let us Cast off the Works of Darkness), Cantata for the First Sunday of Advent, for alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, traverse flute, two oboes,strings and basso continuo: Chorale: Steh auf vom Sündenschlaf
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Lasset uns ablegen die Werke der Finsternis (Let us Cast off the Works of Darkness), Cantata for the First Sunday of Advent, for alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, traverse flute, two oboes,strings and basso continuo: Recitative (Tenor): Drum, Vater
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Lasset uns ablegen die Werke der Finsternis (Let us Cast off the Works of Darkness), Cantata for the First Sunday of Advent, for alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, traverse flute, two oboes,strings and basso continuo: Aria (Soprano): Vater, mit Erbarmen
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Lasset uns ablegen die Werke der Finsternis (Let us Cast off the Works of Darkness), Cantata for the First Sunday of Advent, for alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, traverse flute, two oboes,strings and basso continuo: Accompanied Recitative: Ich weiß, die Nacht ist schon dahin
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Lasset uns ablegen die Werke der Finsternis (Let us Cast off the Works of Darkness), Cantata for the First Sunday of Advent, for alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, traverse flute, two oboes,strings and basso continuo: Aria (Alto): Ich ziehe Jesum an im Glauben
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Lasset uns ablegen die Werke der Finsternis (Let us Cast off the Works of Darkness), Cantata for the First Sunday of Advent, for alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, traverse flute, two oboes,strings and basso continuo: Chorale: Den Geist, der heilig ist
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Lasset uns ablegen die Werke der Finsternis (Let us Cast off the Works of Darkness), Cantata for the First Sunday of Advent, for alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, traverse flute, two oboes,strings and basso continuo: Chorus (da capo): Lasset uns ablegen die Werke der Finsternis
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Es ist eine Stimme eines Predigers in der Wüste (The Voice of him that Crieth in the Wilderness), Cantata for St John’s Day, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, two oboes, strings and basso continuo: Chorus: Es ist eine Stimme eines Predigers in der Wüste
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Es ist eine Stimme eines Predigers in der Wüste (The Voice of him that Crieth in the Wilderness), Cantata for St John’s Day, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, two oboes, strings and basso continuo: Recitative (Tenor): Gott hat uns Gnad und Heil
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Es ist eine Stimme eines Predigers in der Wüste (The Voice of him that Crieth in the Wilderness), Cantata for St John’s Day, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, two oboes, strings and basso continuo: Aria (Soprano): Der Trost gehöret nur vor Kinder
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Es ist eine Stimme eines Predigers in der Wüste (The Voice of him that Crieth in the Wilderness), Cantata for St John’s Day, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, two oboes, strings and basso continuo: Accompanied Recitative (Alto): Dein Heiland lässt die Bahn
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Es ist eine Stimme eines Predigers in der Wüste (The Voice of him that Crieth in the Wilderness), Cantata for St John’s Day, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, two oboes, strings and basso continuo: Aria (Bass): Holdseligster Engel
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Es ist eine Stimme eines Predigers in der Wüste (The Voice of him that Crieth in the Wilderness), Cantata for St John’s Day, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, two oboes, strings and basso continuo: Chorale: Wir Menschen sind zu dem, o Gott
Disk 2
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Dies ist der Tag (This is the Day), Sinfonia and Cantata for Pentecost, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two flutes, two oboes, two horns, bassoon,strings and basso continuo: Sinfonia: Allegro maestoso
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Dies ist der Tag (This is the Day), Sinfonia and Cantata for Pentecost, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two flutes, two oboes, two horns, bassoon,strings and basso continuo: Sinfonia: Andante
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Dies ist der Tag (This is the Day), Sinfonia and Cantata for Pentecost, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two flutes, two oboes, two horns, bassoon,strings and basso continuo: Sinfonia: Vivace
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Dies ist der Tag (This is the Day), Sinfonia and Cantata for Pentecost, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two flutes, two oboes, two horns, bassoon,strings and basso continuo: Cantata: Accompanied recitative (Soprano): Dies ist der Tag
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Dies ist der Tag (This is the Day), Sinfonia and Cantata for Pentecost, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two flutes, two oboes, two horns, bassoon,strings and basso continuo: Cantata: Aria (Tenor): Süßer Hauch von Gottes Throne
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Dies ist der Tag (This is the Day), Sinfonia and Cantata for Pentecost, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two flutes, two oboes, two horns, bassoon,strings and basso continuo: Cantata: Recitative (Alto): Ich folge dir
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Dies ist der Tag (This is the Day), Sinfonia and Cantata for Pentecost, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two flutes, two oboes, two horns, bassoon,strings and basso continuo: Cantata: Aria (Bass): Entzünde mich, du Kraft der größten Liebe!
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Dies ist der Tag (This is the Day), Sinfonia and Cantata for Pentecost, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two flutes, two oboes, two horns, bassoon,strings and basso continuo: Cantata: Chorale: Heilger Geist in Himmels Throne
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Erzittert und fallet (Tremble and Fall), Cantata for Easter Sunday, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, two flutes, oboe, strings and basso continuo: Chorus: Erzittert und fallet
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Erzittert und fallet (Tremble and Fall), Cantata for Easter Sunday, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, two flutes, oboe, strings and basso continuo: Aria (Tenor): Was für reizend sanfte Blicke
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Erzittert und fallet (Tremble and Fall), Cantata for Easter Sunday, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, two flutes, oboe, strings and basso continuo: Recitative (Tenor, Soprano): Das Grab ist leer
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Erzittert und fallet (Tremble and Fall), Cantata for Easter Sunday, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, two flutes, oboe, strings and basso continuo: Duet (Soprano, Baritone): Komm, mein Hirte
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Erzittert und fallet (Tremble and Fall), Cantata for Easter Sunday, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, two flutes, oboe, strings and basso continuo: Recitative (Soprano, Alto): Mein Heiland kommt
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Erzittert und fallet (Tremble and Fall), Cantata for Easter Sunday, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, two flutes, oboe, strings and basso continuo: Aria (Soprano): Rauscht, ihr Fluten, donnernd Blitzen
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Erzittert und fallet (Tremble and Fall), Cantata for Easter Sunday, for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir, two trumpets, timpani, two flutes, oboe, strings and basso continuo: Chorale: Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn
