This disc, originally made in 1989, was among the first wave of recordings that tried to get into Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's expressive world, and recordings of these works for viola da gamba and continuo (which in this case seems to mean just a harpsichord) are not abundant. It's thus a pleasure to have it available again from the budget-minded Brilliant label in the Netherlands, even if the packaging is minimal and the performances a little uneven. C.P.E. Bach's music often has a bizarrely experimental quality mixed incongruously but fascinatingly with a conservatism born of his father's influence, and this program of early works, dating from the 1740s and 1750s, offers good examples. The opening Sonata for viola da gamba and continuo in D major, Wq 137, and concluding Trio for viola da gamba and obbligato harpsichord in G minor, Wq 88 (not a trio but a duo sonata with a written-out harpsichord part in which the right hand fully participates), are dense and a bit skittery. The conservatism is evident above all in the use of the gamba itself -- these are virtually the last major works written for the by 1750 almost antiquated instrument -- and in the extensive use of imitative counterpoint. Yet the music doesn't sound like J.S. Bach. It has stylized emotions that seem to point to the empfindsamer Stil or style of sensibility that came later, not quite so much as the heavy focus on this movement in gambist Paolo Pandolfo's notes would imply, but still enough to be characteristic. The central Sonata for viola da gamba and continuo in C major, Wq 88, is a less thick work, rendered with the lighter palette of the galant style. Pandolfo and harpsichordist Rinaldo Alessandrini (both players were little known at the time) are not relaxed enough in this work, but they capture the sort of gnarly mood of the opening D major piece very well, and they have a nervous virtuosity that works well in C.P.E. Bach's music. The original sound has held up well, and lovers of the rather elusive C.P.E. who missed this the first time around will want to own it. (James Manheim, All Music Guide)

Tracklist:

Solo, for viola da gamba and bass Wq 137 in D major
1. Adagio, ma non tanto
2. Allegro di molto
3. Arioso

Sonata for viola da gamba and bass Wq 136 in C major
4. Andante
5. Allegretto
6. Arioso

Trio for viola da gamba and harpsichord obbligato Wq 88 in G minor
7. Allegro Moderato
8. Larghetto
9. Allegro assai

Paolo Pandolfo - viola da gamba
Rinaldo Alessandrini - harpsichord

I'm planning to "revive" as many dead posts as possible. Take a look at Zamorna's blog on this same site to see a good example of what the future users of Avax are missing. Sadly I missed it when the links were alive and I feel bad for it, but there's a lot of other "abandoned" posts that I will reup.

By writing "thank you" in a comment you say "thanx" just to the author, by reviving a dead post you say "thanx" to the community too.

Mirrors are welcome, ca va sans dire...

In the case this is not the same as Zamorna's many thanx to original uploader

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