Bach - Concerto for three harpsichords in D minor BWV 1063 - Mortensen | Netherlands Bach Society

In the Concerto for three harpsichords in D minor, performed by the Netherlands Bach Society for All of Bach, Bach plays with monophony and polyphony. It is a solo concerto, but then for three harpsichords. Sometimes all the instruments play the same melody, but then they go off on their own again. And even when they follow their own path, there are still always lines played by two, three or four hands together. When the harpsichordists are actually all playing something different, their instruments still sound like one big combined instrument.

Netherlands Bach Society
Lars Ulrik Mortensen, harpsichord 1
Siebe Henstra, harpsichord 2
Menno van Delft, harpsichord 3

Harpsichord 1: Bruce Kennedy, 1989 after Michael Mietke
Harpsichord 2: Geert Karman after J.H. Gräbner, 1774
Harpsichord 3: Knud Kauffman, 1977 after Hildebrandt

0:00 [...]
4:57 Alla Siciliana
8:51 Allegro

[spoderman]

"my desires are.... unconventional" *_opens room with 3 harpsichords_*

[VliegerNL]

Netherlands Bach Society is a beacon of light and a pillar of civilization in our troubled world. Bach is smiling.

[tethryss]

The Harpsichord is an instrument criminally underrated. It has such a dignified and befitting of royalty sound to it.

[alvarogaleano]

Netherlands Bach Society, thank you for existing. Thanks for sharing these wonders!

[zacharyscott]

"What instrument do you play?"
"First harpsichord."

[EduardQualls]

This is an amazingly beautiful concert: reduction in number of instruments allows each voice to sound so clearly. Treating harpsichords true to their nature as chamber instruments makes such a beneficent difference!

[bach]

0:09 [...]
4:57 Alla Siciliana
8:51 Allegro

[olenamaksymchuk]

Harpsichords are like weaving beautiful lace of music....so elegant... so well balanced with each musical instrument.... Thank you Bach and thank you Netherlands Bach society for such wonderful execution!

[twiddle]

There are only a handful of musicians on the stage, but with Bach's genius it sounds so rich and full while still being delicate and precise. Truly the god of music.

[michaelmkpadi]

08:51 gives me chills every time, outstanding performance

[jmrecillas]

Lars Ulrik Mortensen, a true living legend and a musical treasure for historic performance. It's a pleasure to see him playing. Thanks for all the music and records you have done.

[rozalinapiano]

I salute Netherlands Bach Society for the outstanding commitment to the high values in music and their truly invaluable contribution into the much sought after translation of this force of the high conscience into our world’s best substance of the sound of the live performance.

Bravi! to the performers for the effort of delivering lesser known Mavericks of the Unsurpassed Genius. After being led through such a powerful experience of elevations with the help of the masterfully created just for that last movement (and everything else that built up to this), it is hard to stay calm and to write some ordinary comments about such unearthly experience with the incapable to say it all words...
What an intricate surprise game of Musical Predictions the grand magician J.S, Bach had delivered for his lucky audiences! And the listeners deserve to hear that through your more and more BOLD DETAILING of this remarkable texture of magnificence in your future performances of this musical fireworks.

[Vegathlete]

So great to hear Bach as it was conceived and intended, on period instruments, for the truest experience. Love that the strings are utilizing gut strings and baroque bows for a far less harsh, metallic sound, and soft, diminishing sweeps, so essential and to amazing effect, so as to not overpower the delicately intricate voices of the of the entwining harpsichords, the central voice of Mortensen’s with occasional rapturous splashes of cadenza. The strings reverently accompany throughout the complex weave of textures and flourishes. An absolute marvel.

[thetoast]

3:36- 3:49 Priceless expressions... He is in the Harpsichord Zone

[ravingwoofer]

I haD never heard such a complex harmonic incursion by Bach as in the second movement. My head is spinning! WOW!

[rozalinapiano]

This composition does not stop to reveal its amazing sides, just like a precious jewel sparks suddenly as you look at it from the different angles... The most remarkable modulations in the second part are just as the amazing awakening tool that keeps you on your toes, thanks to the most incredible game of the musical predictions that maestro J.S.Bach breaks in the most fun, entertaining and elegant way, by leading our lazy ear from the most expected to the most unique modulations. It feels as a dance with the most amazing partner, who knows when the old turns are due, but wants to entertain his partner and makes the dance more unique and surprising, instead of borryingly familiar. Incredibly fun dance this might be, indeed...
I must admit that the degree or the tonal relativity resembles the tonal explorations of composers in 20 century. And nothing can be more amazing about the prolific composer who could anticipate three centuries ahead of his time what might be happening in music in the future... Or, maybe from the more humble point, it may be us, who are yet to climb a little closer to the height of this all time unsurpassed genius, as we are still taking and learning from his generous feeding hand how to implement everything he had produced for centuries ahead of himself... Also, J.S.Bach’s amazing music does not stop surprising with more and more revelations into the depths of his musical genius. What a gratifying feature that makes comforting familiar music ever exciting and filled with the satisfying complexity for both intellectual and emotional needs. And for this reason, I truly appreciate still too rare emotionally engaging and spirited performance by these remarkably perceptive musicians. Thank you for bringing this lesser performed piece to the yearning for more J.S.Bach audiences. Bravi!

[V]

the center harpsichordist's expressions - priceless!

[dbruin]

Fantastic! I've been born like a Bach-worshipper, so I think I know what I'm talking about. Can't find the words to express how beautifull this performance is. Just marvellous.

[MARTIN]

Superb audio quality. I didn’t expect less from NBS. I have always had a deep respect for Dutch baroque performers, NBS never disappoints. Gracias desde Mexico.

[LindaPgh]

Of the many, many things to love about this, I especially love the high shot that shows all there harpsichordists swooning and swaying together.