This episode has been dedicated to the harpsichord concerto.
In his Fifth Brandenburg Concerto, Johann Sebastian Bach gave the harpsichord its first role as a soloist in the orchestra. Later, he regularly performed his own harpsichord concertos with the Collegium Musicum in Leipzig. In addition to him, his sons Wilhelm Friedemann and Carl Philipp Emanuel also played the solo parts. Later, they would also compose their own harpsichord concertos, just like their younger brothers Johann Christoph Friedrich and Johann Christian. Other German composers also composed such concertos. We will hear a concerto by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Italian born Giovanni Benedetto Platti, who worked in Germany for the larger part of his life, and Christoph Schaffrath, who was employed successively by Frederick the Great and his sister Anna Amalia.
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
1. Concerto for harpsichord, strings and basso continuo in G major (Wq 3 / H 405)
Pieter-Jan Belder, harpsichord. Musica Amphion
(cd: “Harpsichord Concertos” – Brilliant Classics 94849, 2014)
Giovanni Benedetto Platti (1697-1763)
2. Concerto for harpsichord, strings and basso continuo in C major (I 48)
Roberto Loreggian, harpsichord. L’Arte dell’ Arco conducted by Federico Guglielmo
(cd: “Four Harpsichord Concertos” – CPO 555 219-2, 2020)
Christoph Schaffrath (ca 1710-1763)
3. Concerto for harpsichord, strings and basso continuo in C minor (CSWV:C:11)
Philippe Grivard, harpsichord. Ensemble Diderot
(cd: “Berlin Harpsichord Concertos” – Audax ADX11211, 2024)
addition:
Giovanni Benedetto Platti
4. From Sonata in F major, op. 1,3: non tanto allegro
Stefano Molardi, harpsichord
(cd: “Complete Music for Harpsichord and Organ” – Brilliant Classics 95518, 2018)
