Bach and Olli Kortekangas
Brandenburg concerto and the world premiere
J.S. Bach – Kortekangas – Telemann
Pauliina Fred, traverso
Anthony Marini, violin
Petteri Pitko, harpsichord
Finnish Baroque Orchestra
As the emergence of the historically informed performance of Baroque music intensified during the 1980s, in Finland the first generation of contemporary composers from the Korvat auki society (Ears Open) came forward. Olli Kortekangas (b. 1955), a representative of that generation, has composed a concerto for FiBO’s concerts at the Organ Night and Aria Festival in Espoo and in Lapinjärvi. The soloist ensemble draws its inspiration from Johann Sebastian Bach’s (1685–1750) beloved fifth Brandenburg concerto, which is also performed in the concert.
Kortekangas says that he together with the musicians has endeavoured to avoid the presumptions that go together with the new versions of the old instruments – in this case harpsichord, traverso flute and violin. Kortekangas added a second violin to Bach’s orchestra. In the work that is now premiered, the roles of the soloists vary: the flute is the most soloistic, the harpsichord is closest to the orchestra and the violinist has a leading role.
The harpsichord part in turn stands out in Bach’s bright and infinitely intelligent fifth concerto. As a listening experience, the famous harpsichord cadenza in the first movement could be compared to an improvisation by a jazz pianist. The concerto that in 1721 was added to the collections presented to the Margrave of Brandenburg was composed in 1719 for the inauguration of a new harpsichord. We also get to hear a wonderful and surprising sinfonia from a cantata by Bach (BWV 42, 1725).
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1767) was the godfather of Bach’s son Emanuel and one of the top musicians of his time. His jovial concerto for four violins without basso continuo has bright virtuosity, witty themes and adventurous experimentation.
Duration: 1 t (no intermission)