The five-member Aulos Ensemble–Christopher Krueger (flauto traverso); Marc Schachman (baroque oboe); Linda Quan (baroque violin); Myron Lutzke (baroque cello); Arthur Haas (harpsichord)–has put together a very attractive program of works by three of J.S. Bach’s sons, recorded in a very close, intimate acoustic that places us front and center, in position to enjoy every detail and appreciate the rich timbres of the strings, the reedy flute, the harpsichord’s sparkling brilliance. Interspersed with the larger works are famous selections from the Clavier Büchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach, performed by various instrumental combinations (for instance, the “Aria” BWV 988.1 features cello and harpsichord; the entire ensemble joins for a charming rendition of everyone’s favorite G major Minuet).
Of course the music itself is stylistically nothing like that of father Sebastian, showing the influence of the Italian brand of the style galant or, in Emanuel’s case, representing the self-consciously expressive, North-German Empfindsamer stil. Indeed, in Christian’s Quintet are hints of the later Divertimentos of Mozart. There’s nothing especially notable or revelatory here–it’s just very pleasant music that squarely resides in the transitional period from late baroque to mature classical. And the Aulos Ensemble spares nothing in energy or enthusiasm, applying the full measure of its long-time experience (the group was founded in 1973) to enliven these rarely-heard works. A fine addition to the Bach family catalog.
