From Hungarian label BMC (Budapest Music Center) comes this first rate program of Bach sonatas, performed on flute, oboe, and bassoon, with occasional harpsichord. Beginning with their own version of the E-flat major organ sonata BWV 525 these excellent musicians offer sensibly paced, pleasingly sonorous, ideally balanced renditions both of authentic works–BWV 525, BWV 1039, and the Sonata in C minor (from the Musical Offering BWV 1079)–and those of questionable provenance–BWV 1037, attributed to the Goldberg of the Goldberg Variations, and BWV 1038, a sonata based on authentic Bach, but that some scholars believe was at least partially written by a capable Bach student. Nevertheless, these performances are realized with a keen sense of melodic independence and ensemble coherence–and this combination of instruments goes together exceptionally well. There’s no razzle-dazzle here, nor any uncharacteristic interpretive gestures–just straightforward music-making that lets Bach’s artfully conceived lines, harmonies, and contrapuntal textures speak for themselves. And the sonic environment is fully supportive of instrumental timbres and of the music’s requisite balances and detail. For some reason, the Adagio from BWV 525 is repeated at the end of the program. No explanation, just another chance to hear this lovely music one more time.
