Music reviews: Bach Keyboard Concertos: Concert 4, St Cecilia's Hall, Edinburgh

It was a treat to hear two related double manual harpsichords from St Cecilia’s superb keyboard collection in Bach’s Double Concerto in C major.
Christine Schornsheim. Picture: EIFChristine Schornsheim. Picture: EIF
Christine Schornsheim. Picture: EIF

Bach Keyboard Concertos: Concert 4, St Cecilia's Hall, Edinburgh * * * *

Andreas Staier played the 1769 Taskin while Christine Schornsheim sat at an instrument made in 1764 by Goermans which Taskin substantially altered some twenty years later.

Hide Ad

The tonal blend of the two instruments was perfect with Schornsheim’s sharper articulation adding brightness in the quicker movements. Other than emphasising a phrase here or there in the outer movements, Bach didn’t write much for the Dunedin Consort string quartet especially in the harpsichord duet, a wonderfully decorated adagio.

Read More
8 Fringe First winners from week two

After an understated account of the Fantasia in A minor, Staier applied more colour and vivacity to the quicker movements of the Keyboard Concerto in A major but the larghetto, a Siciliano, would have benefited from a slightly faster more dance-like quality.

Related topics: