Johann Sebastian Bach: The Complete Works for Keyboard, Vol. 4 "Alla Veneziana" Benjamin Alard

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750):
• 1 Concerto in G Major, BWV 973: I. [no indication] 02:13
• 2 Concerto in G Major, BWV 973: II. Largo 01:57
• 3 Concerto in G Major, BWV 973: III. Allegro 02:28
• 4 Concerto in G Minor, BWV 975: I. [no indication] 03:10
• 5 Concerto in G Minor, BWV 975: II. Largo 03:10
• 6 Concerto in G Minor, BWV 975: III. Giga Presto 02:08
• 7 Concerto in B Minor, BWV 979: I. Allegro 01:16
• 8 Concerto in B Minor, BWV 979: II. Adagio 00:40
• 9 Concerto in B Minor, BWV 979: III. Allegro 03:20
• 10 Concerto in B Minor, BWV 979: IV. Andante 01:09
• 11 Concerto in B Minor, BWV 979: V. Adagio 00:46
• 12 Concerto in B Minor, BWV 979: VI. Allegro 03:46
• 13 Concerto in D Major, BWV 972: I. [no indication] 02:07
• 14 Concerto in D Major, BWV 972: II. Larghetto 03:05
• 15 Concerto in D Major, BWV 972: III. Allegro 02:17
• 16 Fantasia and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 944 08:01
• 17 Concerto in D Minor, BWV 974: I. [no indication] 03:07
• 18 Concerto in D Minor, BWV 974: II. Adagio 03:25
• 19 Concerto in D Minor, BWV 974: III. Presto 03:50
• 20 Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 894: I. Prelude 05:51
• 21 Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 894: II. Fugue 04:41
• 22 Concerto in G Major, BWV 980: I. [no indication] 03:59
• 23 Concerto in G Major, BWV 980: II. Largo 03:07
• 24 Concerto in G Major, BWV 980: III. Allegro 04:08
• 25 Organ Concerto in A Minor, BWV 593: I. [Allegro] 03:52
• 26 Organ Concerto in A Minor, BWV 593: II. Adagio 03:41
• 27 Organ Concerto in A Minor, BWV 593: III. Allegro 03:55
• 28 Concerto in F Major, BWV 978: I. Allegro 02:23
• 29 Concerto in F Major, BWV 978: II. Largo 01:29
• 30 Concerto in F Major, BWV 978: III. Allegro 02:38
• 31 Organ Concerto in D Minor, BWV 596: I. [Allegro] 00:54
• 32 Organ Concerto in D Minor, BWV 596: II. Grave 00:17
• 33 Organ Concerto in D Minor, BWV 596: III. Fuga 03:10
• 34 Organ Concerto in D Minor, BWV 596: IV. Largo e spiccato 02:39
• 35 Organ Concerto in D Minor, BWV 596: V. [no indication] 03:10
• 36 Concerto in C Major, BWV 976: I. [no indication] 04:06
• 37 Concerto in C Major, BWV 976: II. Largo 03:11
• 38 Concerto in C Major, BWV 976: III. Allegro 03:12
• 39 Prelude and Fugue in G Minor, BWV 535 07:01
• 40 Organ Concerto in G Major, BWV 592: I. [Adagio] 03:13
• 41 Organ Concerto in G Major, BWV 592: II. Grave 02:01
• 42 Organ Concerto in G Major, BWV 592: III. Presto 01:57
• 43 Fantasie and Fugue in G Minor, BWV 542/2 (excerpt): II. Fugue 06:12
• 44 Organ Concerto in C Major, BWV 594: I. [Allegro] 07:15
• 45 Organ Concerto in C Major, BWV 594: II. Recitativ. Adagio 03:35
• 46 Organ Concerto in C Major, BWV 594: III. Allegro 08:47
• 47 "Wo soll ich fliehen hin", BWV 694 03:17
• 48 Trio for organ in D Minor, BWV 583 05:00
• 49 "Valet will ich dir geben", BWV 736 04:08
• 50 Trio super "Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr", BWV 664 05:37
• 51 "Wir glauben all an einen Gott" BWV-Anh. 69 03:07
• 52 "Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her" BWV-Anh. 65 01:16
• 53 "Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele" BWV-Anh. 52 03:32
• 54 "Jesu, meine Freude" BWV-Anh. 58 03:09
• 55 Toccata in C Major, BWV 564: I. Toccata 05:41
• 56 Toccata in C Major, BWV 564: II. Adagio 04:42
• 57 Toccata in C Major, BWV 564: III. Fugue 05:07
• Total Runtime 03:16:55

Info for Johann Sebastian Bach: The Complete Works for Keyboard, Vol. 4 "Alla Veneziana"

With this volume 4 in a complete recording of Bach’s keyboard works whose ingenuity has been underlined by every reviewer (e.g. Gramophone, July 2020), Benjamin Alard continues to explore the Weimar period, known as that of his ‘early mastery’. After À la française, we turn to Italy, where the Vivaldian concerto reigned in Venice. The young Bach created here a wonderful space of freedom between the transcriber and the improviser. For ‘if transcription is a matter of freedom, it is also a matter of powerful imagination: each piece on this recording transports us into a Venetian universe that fascinated Bach as much as it inspired him’, as Benjamin Alard demonstrates on three exceptional instruments.

Benjamin Alard, harpsichord, organ

Benjamin Alard
Benjamin’s principal passion has always been the music of J.S. Bach and it was for his interpretation of this great composer that he was awarded first prize in the 2004 International Harpsichord Competition in Bruges.

While still quite young he began studying music in his hometown in Dieppe, France. He was soon drawn to the organ and entered the Conservatory of Rouen where he studied with Louis Thiry and François Ménissier.

He was first introduced to the harpsichord by Elizabeth Joyé, with whom he studied in Paris before going on, in 2003, to the Schola Cantorum in Basel to work with Jorg-Andreas Botticher, Jean-Claude Zehnder and Andrea Marcon.

Since 2005 he has been organist of the Bernard-Aubertin organ in the church of Saint-Louis-en-l’Ile where each season he gives concerts about the music of Bach.

Today Benjamin Alard divides his time between performing recitals and chamber music on both the harpsichord and organ. He often performs repertoire for two harpsichords, in duo with the violinist Francois Fernandez and in various formations with the brothers Barthold, Sigiswald and Wieland Kuijken. He is regularly invited to perform as soloist in music series in Europe, Japan and North America.

Since 2005 he has been a member of La Petite Bande, an ensemble founded in 1973 by Gustav Leonhardt and Sigiswald Kuijken, often, in the last few years, conducting the group from the harpsichord.

Benjamin Alard has recorded for the label Hortus and has made several recordings of works by J. S. Bach for Alpha. His recordings have consistently received high praise from the press and have been awarded multiple prizes.

He will now devote himself to the complete works for harpsichord and organ solo of Johann Sebastian Bach for harmonia mundi. The first box will be released in Spring 2018.

Booklet for Johann Sebastian Bach: The Complete Works for Keyboard, Vol. 4 "Alla Veneziana"