Bach Adagios (2007)

About this title: Since most of Johann Sebastian Bach's oratorios, cantatas, concertos, suites, and sonatas contain slow movements -- many of which have become favorite excerpts -- putting together a double album of them would seem quite easy; since Decca has an extensive catalog of Bach performances by such luminaries as Trevor Pinnock, Neville Marriner, Raymond Leppard, Arthur Grumiaux, Heinz Holliger, Alfred Brendel, and many others, assembling this collection would almost seem like child's play. All Bach's popular hits are included here, from the Air on the G string to the Prelude in C major from the Well ... read more

Tracks:

1. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: Air (Air on a G String)
2. Cantata No. 140, "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme," BWV 140 (BC A166): Sleepers Awake (Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme)
3. Concerto for flute, violin, harpsichord, strings & continuo in A minor ("Triple"), BWV 1044: Adagio, ma non tanto, e dolce
4. Cantata No. 156, "Ich steh mit einem Fuss im Grabe," BWV 156 (BC A38): Sinfonia
5. Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050: Affettuoso
6. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Aria
7. Italian Concerto, for solo keyboard in F major (Clavier-Übung II/1), BWV 971 (BC L7): Andante
8. Concerto for violin, strings & continuo No. 1 in A minor, BWV 1041: Andante
9. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 5 in F minor, BWV 1056: Largo
10. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Sarabande
11. Concerto for oboe, violin, strings & continuo in F major (reconstruction), BWV 1053R: Siciliano
12. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Sinfonia
13. Sonata for flute & keyboard in A major, BWV 1032: Largo
14. Suite for lute in G minor, BWV 995: Gavotte 1/2 en Rondeau
15. Jesu, meine Freude, motet for 5-part chorus, BWV 227 (BC C5): Jesu, Priceless Treasure
16. Concerto for 2 violins, strings & continuo in D minor ("Double"), BWV 1043: Largo ma non tanto
17. Sonata for flute & keyboard in E flat major, BWV 1031: Siciliano
18. Concerto for violin, strings & continuo No. 2 in E major, BWV 1042: Adagio
19. Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047: Andante
20. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Andante
21. Concerto for oboe & violin (or 2 violins), strings & continuo (reconstruction), BWV 1060R: Adagio
22. Concerto for oboe d'amore, strings & continuo in A major (reconstruction), BWV 1055R: Larghetto
23. Partita for keyboard No. 1 in B flat major, BWV 825 (BC L1): Praeludium
24. Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049: Andante
25. Partita for keyboard No. 4 in D major, BWV 828 (BC L4): Sarabande
26. Concerto for oboe & violin (or 2 violins), strings & continuo (reconstruction), BWV 1060R: Adagio
27. Prelude and Fugue, for keyboard No. 1 in C major (WTC I/1), BWV 846 (BC L80): Prelude no. 1
28. Minuet for keyboard No. 36 in D minor (AMN II/36; doubtful), BWV Anh. 132
29. Partita for solo violin No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006: Gavotte en rondeau
30. Cantata No. 147, "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben," BWV 147 (BC A174): Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.