Let's take stock here:
2 violas (the women in the middle)
2 violas da gamba (guy and gal to their right)
1 cello (guy across the way there by himself)
1 harpsichord (large red thing)
1 violone (guy behind the two women, just doing what he does)
This is my favorite movement of the Brandenburg Concertos. I love all the intertwining delicate notes, the way the violas dance around each other, sometimes connecting, other times off on their own adventures. It feels like they get to have all the fun while the rest of the instruments are just holding down the fort and sawing away. But not true. As the piece goes on, there are opportunities for the cello to step out a bit, like at 3:45 he seems to be enjoying himself. The viola players move around a lot, I wonder if they were allowed to do that in Bach's day. Were there even women viola players back then? And even if there were, would they have been allowed to be so physically demonstrative? Magic eight ball says "I seriously doubt it." I looked up other performances, and this one is my favorite, I like the tempo.
I also like the Brandenburg concerto with the wicked harpsichord jam at the end, can't think which one that is off the top of my head. Had to look it up: Concerto 5, 1st movement, Allegro, basically the last 3 and a half minutes is crazy solo harpsichord. Bach was just in the mood that day I suppose. Those other musicians have nothing to do but sit there and listen to this guy rock out like he's playing the keyboard solo in Won't Get Fooled Again. My mom would probably say, "Where are Karl Richter's parents? Letting him mess around on the harpsichord like that? Hmmph."
Bach, the man, the myth, the master of disaster:
Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt:
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