Harpsichord concerto in F minor

Harpsichord concerto in F minor

BWV 1056 performed by Siebe Henstra and the Netherlands Bach Society
Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Amsterdam

  • Menu
  • 1. Allegro moderato
  • 2. Largo
  • 3. Presto
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Behind the music

Story
Story
Extra videos
Extra videos
Credits
Credits

With a dash of Telemann

Refined game between harpsichord and orchestra

This concerto for harpsichord is in the melancholy key of F minor. Although the plaintive character is noticeable straight away, the sun does shine through in several places. “The whole concerto hangs together perfectly”, says soloist Siebe Henstra. In the first movement, Bach gets the orchestra and the harpsichordist to play a refined game, with a sort of ‘bunged-up-nose’ echo effect. They play together and then the harpsichord repeats the last figure. In the third movement, Bach harks back to this – but then the other way round, with the orchestra repeating while the harpsichord is silent.

As with all Bach concertos, the middle movement is special. And actually, it isn’t even Bach, as the melody refers back to the Andante from the Flute Concerto in G major, TWV 51:G2 by Telemann. Bach takes Telemann’s theme and develops it in his own way. And he was obviously pleased with the result, as he used this middle movement again in his cantata Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe, although there the solo is played by an oboe rather than a harpsichord.

BWV
1056
Title
Harpsichord Concerto in F Minor
Instrument
harpsichord
Genre
harpsichord works, orchestral works
Year
between 1733 and 1746
City
Leipzig
Special notes
Bach used the second movement as the introduction to cantata BWV 156, Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe

Extra videos

Harpsichordist Siebe Henstra

“It's a wonderful concerto. There's the sombre mood of F minor, but when the solo starts it's like the sun coming out.”

Vocal texts

Original

Translation

Credits

  • Release date
    16 March 2018
  • Recording date
    3 February 2017
  • Location
    Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Amsterdam
  • Harpsichord
    Bruce Kennedy, 1989 after Michael Mietke
  • Harpsichordist
    Siebe Henstra
  • Violin
    Shunske Sato, Noyuri Hazama
  • Viola
    Pieter Affourtit
  • Cello
    Lucia Swarts
  • Double bass
    Hen Goldsobel
  • Director
    Lucas van Woerkum
  • Assistant director
    Stijn Berkhouwer
  • Music recording
    Guido Tichelman, Bastiaan Kuijt, Pim van der Lee
  • Music edit and mix
    Guido Tichelman
  • Camera
    Jochem Timmerman, Rene Holbrugge, Kenneth Dirkzwager
  • Intern camera
    Klazina Westra
  • Lights
    Zen Bloot
  • Set technique
    Justin Mutsaers
  • Data handling
    Jesper Blok
  • Project manager nep
    Peter Ribbens
  • Interview
    Onno van Ameijde, Marloes Biermans
  • Producer concert
    Marco Meijdam
  • Producer film
    Jessie Verbrugh

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