Hi,
Thanks again for this beautiful recording. There is some more information also at : http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Vocal/Chorales-QuartettoItaliano.htm.
Best regards.

I'll give this one a try, thanks!

Thank you both for your comments! Links and any additional information are always appreciated.

Nice to see you here, Aliomodo! :)

Rho HOLA! Te he entregado un premio en mi blog. ¡Un abrazo!

Muchas gracias por el premio, Adriana!!! Y un abrazo de mi parte también! :)

I haven't listened to this record, but this proves (again!) that you can play Bach's music on ANY instrument or combination of instruments and it will always be beautiful.
It also renders the silly discussion of piano vs. harpsichord vs. whatever totally moot and irrelevant.
(Sandflyer, not logged in ;-P)

Hello Sandflyer! :) Thank you! Yes, I pretty much agree, although in this case a viol ensemble is not too "off-the-wall" - Bach did compose for the instrument(s) and it's the sort of thing that might still have been found at a few courts in his time. Hope you get a chance to listen to it in all its beauty soon! :)

"the "fierce cold" of protestant church music..."
Excellent phrasing! There are indeed some chilling moments on this wonderful recording, which make a welcome change to interpretations that seek to make Bach more intimate, less 'austere'. There's nothing wrong with kneeling on the cold stone floor, head bowed, and to just sit in awe for once in a while.
The best disc I've encountered in a long time, and a complete surprise. I can't thank you enough for posting, Rho.

Edmond, it's a real pleasure to be sharing this music with someone who understands it so well. No thanks needed, your own excellent blog offers more than enough in exchange!! It's just a shame we covered all of MacGregor's Bach together so soon.. :)

@Edmond - A thought occured to me in reference to what you said. I wonder if you know the album "Morimur" by the Hilliard Ensemble? It's a very revealing analysis/exploraton of how Bach wove that awe-inspiring church music deep into the fabric of his compositions - in this case specifically the violin sonatas and partitas. I think you've touched on an important point there - perhaps THE point that elevates Bach's music above that of his contemporaries. If you don't know the album, I'll locate links or upload it. It's a performance with a real resonance.

Incidentally, Fauteuil d'Oreille has a Kunst der Fuge on his blog, with similar instrumenation

http://fauteuildoreille.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-04-25T12%3A02%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7

Thank you, Sandflyer! Yes, I know that one - Edmond and I have much in common :) I'll put the link up with the main post for others who might be interested.

Gracias por este CD. No conocía estas transcripciones.

mi placer, tahra... :)

By a curious coincindence I started listening to this wonderful album just atop the Emerson Quartet recording of the well-tempered clavier fugues... Now I wish someone would do this material with a string quartet...

Hi, muratiskender. Yes, me too. It's funny that such an album doesn't exist (as far as I know...) because 4-part chorales are very natural music for quartets, and the sound is wonderful. Sometimes you comes across one or two here and there - the Emersons have Vor deinen Thron tret ich hiermit on the end of their Art of Fugue for instance, but not a whole album. Surely it's only a matter of time...