Bach Orchestrations sans Stokie)
If you like your Bach done up in 19th-century lush romantic orchestrations, Leonard Slatin has just the trick, in two collections of Bach arrangement, this one by noted composers, the other "Bach Conductor Transcriptions." The rich chromatic, almost romantic, harmonies sound especially well when played by a large orchestra. And with the BBC Orchestra, Felix has everything he needs. All the warhorses are here, using the usual English titles, "Sheep may safely graze" (transc. Ormandy), "A Mighty Fortess is our God" (Damrosch), "Du bist bei mir" (Klemperer), Air on the G String (Sargent), the monumental chaconne from the d minor solo violin sonata (transcr. brilliantly by Joachim Raff, a prominent 19th century composer), "Lament on the Departure of Dear Brother" (Sir Henry Wood--judging from the heart-felt music Bach was very sorry to see him leave), and a terrifying arrangement by Sckrowaczewski of the famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor.
