Johann Christoph Friedrich BACH (1732-1795)
Symphony in C major, W. I/6 (c.1770) [16:54]
Symphony in E flat major, W. I/10 (c.1770-1772) [11:38]
Symphony in B flat major, W. I/20 (c.1794) [22:42]
Leipziger Kammerorchester/Morten Schuldt-Jensen
rec. Paul-Gerhardt-Kirche, Leipzig, August 2008. DDD
NAXOS 8.572217 [51:14] 
This is the third CD released by Naxos dedicated solely to the music of Johann
Christoph Friedrich Bach, often known as "Bückeburg Bach", after
the German town in Lower Saxony where he spent most of his life. The previous
two releases were of choral works, so this is a first taster from Naxos of
the instrumental music. This may well be the first recording of these symphonies
since the Cologne Chamber Orchestra's under Helmut Müller-Brühl on Koch-Schwann
in 1993, although the E flat symphony is available on a Capriccio disc also
distributed by Naxos (C10283).
Only eight of J.C.F. Bach's twenty known symphonies have survived World War
destruction. The earliest dates back to about 1765, the latest to 1794. The
Symphony in C major, W. I/6 probably dates from 1770, according to
surviving autograph parts. It is a warm, sunny, almost Italianate work, reminiscent
of Luigi Boccherini, with one of the funniest surprises in its third movement
in all 18th century music - virtually guaranteed to put a smile on the face
of even the most inured of listeners.
The Symphony in E flat major, W. I/10 comes from around the same time
and is also in three movements. It is once again a lively, positive piece,
perhaps with a little more cloud cover in the first movement than the C major,
and again reminiscent of Boccherini.
Though the Symphony in B flat major, W. I/20 is commonly referred to
as Bach's symphony "no.20" (after the catalogue number), none of
those between this and the E flat "no.10" above have survived. Moreover,
the B flat was written more than twenty years after the first two, and the
developments and innovations in the symphony brought about by Joseph Haydn,
and later Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, are evident in a number of ways - there
are now four movements, the length has doubled, the orchestra has increased
in size, there is a greater role for the wind instruments.
The style is also quite different - symphony proper now, rather than old-style
sinfonia. Though still clearly of its time - in fact, before its time
would be more accurate, given what Haydn and Mozart were writing – J.C.F.
was more expert craftsman than iconoclastic artist - this is altogether a
much more imaginative and adventurous work; appropriately enough, as this
was to be Bach's last symphony.
The chamber orchestra play immaculately throughout. Schuldt-Jensen had already
been conducting this group for eight years by the time of this recording,
and their close understanding of each other makes for hugely disciplined performances.
The recording is good, although the microphones do sound almost too close,
and occasionally pick up intakes of breath. The CD is rather on the short
side - it would surely have made more sense to make this a set of four symphonies,
leaving a final set of four for some future date.
In sum, this is not indispensable music, but it is attractive and graceful,
and gives a worthwhile look at the talents of one of the sons of one of the
greatest of musical geniuses.
Byzantion
Attractive and graceful - a worthwhile look at the talents of one of the sons
of one of the greatest of musical geniuses.