Eldbjørg Hemsing: Colors of Bach - Eldbjørg Hemsing [CD]

For 'Colors of Bach', violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing has teamed up with renowned arrangers Tim Allhoff, Jan-Peter Klöpfel, and Jarkko Riihimäki to explore the sonic essence of some of Bach's most iconic melodies. Together they have created contemporary arrangements for solo violin, string quintet, piano, and harpsichord, uncovering new colours in 20 of Bach's compositions spanning genres from chorales and organ works to solo piano pieces and violin sonatas. Some arrangements introduce fresh harmonic contexts, while others experiment with entirely new instrumentations. For instance, the dense and melodic arrangement of the 'Organ prelude in C Major' seamlessly transitions to a virtuoso solo violin and string orchestra rendition, creating a new and captivating musical experience. 'Air' takes on the elegance of an Italian concerto, while the beloved 'Erbarme Dich' from the 'St. Matthew Passion' is reimagined as an intimate instrumental ballad. These inspiring arrangements highlight the adaptability and timelessness of Bach's music, resulting in a striking kaleidoscope of musical colors. 'Colors of Bach' was recorded in the studio of the Oslo Opera House with an all-star ensemble featuring some of the city's finest string players: 1st violin Elise Båtnes (Concertmaster, Oslo Philharmonic), 2nd violins Liv Hilde Klokk-Bryhn and Maria Carlsen (Oslo Philharmonic), viola Ida Bryhn (Principal Viola, Oslo Philharmonic), cello Louisa Tuck (Principal Cello, Oslo Philharmonic), and bass Kenneth Ryland (Principal Bass, Oslo Philharmonic). Tim Allhoff joins on piano, with Christian Kjos on harpsichord.

Disc 1
1. Bach Partita Variation (After Violin Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV100: I. Preludio) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
2. Ert”nt Uns Durch Dein Gte Variation (After Jesus Nahm Zu Sich Die Zw”lfe, BWV22, No. 5: Ert”t Uns Durch Dein Gte) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
3. Ave Maria Variation (After the Well-tempered Clavier I: Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C Major, BWV846: I. Prelude) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
4. Minuet in G Major Variation (After Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, BWVAnh.116, No. 7: Menuet in G Major) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
5. Concerto in a Minor Variation (After Violin Concerto No. 1 in a Minor, BWV1041: II. Andante) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
6. Melancholy Variation (After Concerto for Violin and Oboe in C Minor, BWV1060R: III. Allegro) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
7. Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben Variation (After Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben, BWV147: VI. Wohl Mir, Daá Ich Jesum Habe) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
8. Air Variation (After Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV1068: II. Air) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
9. Bach Brandenburg Concerto Revisited (After Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major, BWV1046: I. Allegro) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
10. Ich Steh an Deiner Krippen Hier, BWV469 (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
11. Aria Goldberg Variation (After Goldberg Variations, BWV988: Aria) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
12. Prelude in C Major Variation (After Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV553: I. Prelude) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
13. Es Ist Gewisslich an Der Zeit Variation (After Nun Freut Euch, Lieben Christen Gmein, BWV734) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
14. Invention in F Major Variation (After Invention in F Major, BWV779) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
15. Organ Sonata Variation (After Organ Sonata No. 4 in E Minor, BWV528: II. Andante) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
16. Befiehl Du Deine Wege Variation (After Matth„uspassion, BWV244, No. 53: Befiehl Du Deine Wege) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
17. Erbarme Dich, Mein Gott Variation (After Matth„uspassion, BWV244, No. 47: Erbarme Dich, Mein Gott) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
18. Ich Ruf Zu Dir, Herr Jesu Christ Variation (After Ich Ruf Zu Dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV639) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
19. Concerto in D Minor Variation (After Concerto in D Minor, BWV974: III. Presto) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
20. I. Allegro (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
21. II. Adagio (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
22. III. Allegro Assai (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers
23. Choral Aria Variation (After Widerstehe Doch Der Snde, BWV54: I. Aria) (Johann Sebastian Bach) - Various Performers