J. C. Bach: Selected Clavier Sonatas - Martynova

This release is Volume 1 of a series on the Russian label titled Harpsichord Gems. It may seem rather odd to see albums of early music coming from such a source, but there is a small group of Russian musicians specializing in this genre, including the Pratum Integrum Orchestra, with which young Martynova often plays. In fact she is one of the premier harpsichordists in Russian today. It was her idea to record some of the clavier sonatas of Johann Christian Bach, and she selected the six presented here.
J.C. was J.S.’s favorite of his many sons, and it was for him that the elder Bach created Book II of The Well-Tempered Clavier. As a child J.C. was playing the harpsichord, clavichord and organ, and later grew fond of the newly-developed pianoforte. At his father’s death J.C. was only 15, and he inherited three of J.S.’s harpsichords. He moved from Leipzig to Milan where he spent a decade, but he then settled in London, becoming known as The London Bach. He composed for keyboards his entire life, in addition to symphonies, concertos and various chamber works. The child Mozart studied J.C. Bach’s music carefully and the elder composer was drawn to the young genius. The two composers’ music share a similar style, but the gallant approach of Bach’s with clear and strong melodies and light sensuality is in contrast to Mozart’s abilities to develop his themes intensively and creatively. Mozart even arranged the Sonatas 3 &4 from Opus 5 here as concertos for clavier and strings.
The sonatas were intended to be performed on any keyboards available at the time, but they neither lean toward the octaves, chords and other devices of early pianoforte music nor are they filled with ornaments as is most Baroque harpsichord and clavichord music. The Sonata No. 2 from Opus 17 is unique in having all three of its movements in sonata form. The closing Sonata No. 5 is in a sunny A Major and has an Italian mood to it, bringing the J.C. Bach recital to a graceful and melodic conclusion. The instrument is a 1985 copy of a 1730 Parisian harpsichord and is miked just right using five mikes, but not too closely to pick up annoying mechanical noise.

Sonata in G major op.5 №3
1 Allegro
2 Allegretto
Sonata in B-flat major op.5 №1
3 Allegretto
4 Tempo di Minuetto
Sonata in E-flat major op.5 №4
5 Allegro
6 Rondeaux
Sonata in G major op.17 №4
7 Allegro
8 Presto
Sonata in C minor op.17 №2
9 [Allegro]
10 Andante
11 Prestissimo
Sonata in A major op.17 №5
12 Allegro
13 Presto

Total time: 68'33"