Album

Harmonia Mundi's Bach: Alio modo features esteemed period viol consort Fretwork performing keyboard works of Johann Sebastian Bach as adapted by group leader Richard Boothby. The idea of playing Bach on a viol consort would have been a little retro for the composer, who was a capable violinist himself and regularly led groups that were among the predecessors of modern orchestras. Bach's flowing contrapuntal lines lie well on these instruments, and in terms of getting his counterpoint across, this setting works, although a good organist or harpsichordist is perfectly capable of achieving the same end in this music. Not every listener can stand to listen to a recording of a pipe organ at home, as it reminds them of being in church, and others may share actress Joan Crawford's alleged disdain of the harpsichord. Perhaps this is the audience Fretwork is hoping to reach—indeed, a listener afflicted with such inclinations would be missing out on some of Bach's finest musical utterances.

The playing here is fabulous, as smooth as silk and perfectly in tune, although it's odd to hear a viol consort in music that is so "tonal," as much of the standard literature for viol consorts predates the regular establishment of keys, tending toward modality and therefore sounding harmonically thornier. Sometimes the purity of the tonality lends a harmonium-like "wheezing squeezebox" sound to the proceedings, and the lack of vibrato employed by Fretwork seems a little alien to Bach. Nevertheless, as a recording Bach: Alio modo is very easy on the ears; it is like a very still pool with ripples slowly radiating out from the center. And toward the end of the disc, two pieces from The Musical Offering are played, and as this openly scored work is well-established among ensembles of string players, we find ourselves nearing a somewhat familiar shore toward the end of the disc.

Reviewing a disc such as Bach: Alio modo is potentially a hot potato; one doesn't want to damn it with too faint a praise, as it is a very fine recording. Should the public discover it, then Bach: Alio modo deserves to do well in the marketplace. Hard-core fans of J.S. Bach are probably not going to dig this one; to many of them it will fall somewhere in between the work of Ferruccio Busoni and the Windham Hill compilation The Bach Variations. Look for Fretwork's Bach: Alio modo to become a hot topic over the classical music water coolers of the world; perhaps one should not risk being left out of the conversation.

© Uncle Dave Lewis, All Music Guide

CD 1
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Fantasia in G, BWV572 Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
1	Fantasia in G, BWV572	5:43			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein, BWV641 Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
2	Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein, BWV641	1:53			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Well-tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV870-893 Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
3	Prelude and Fugue No.16 in G-, BWV885	4:44			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Passacaglia and Fugue in C-, BWV582 Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
4	Passacaglia and Fugue in C-, BWV582	11:15			Album Only
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit, BWV669 Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
5	Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit, BWV669	0:54			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Christe, aller Welt Trost, BWV670 Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
6	Christe, aller Welt Trost, BWV670	1:31			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist, BWV671 Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
7	Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist, BWV671	4:41			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot (in canon), BWV678 Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
8	Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot (in canon), BWV678	4:00			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Fughetta super Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot, BWV679 Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
9	Fughetta super Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot, BWV679	1:53			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Well-tempered Clavier, Book 1, BWV846-869 Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
10	Prelude and Fugue No.22 in Bb-, BWV867	5:02			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu Dir, BWV686 Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
11	Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu Dir, BWV686	4:38			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Prelude and Fugue in Eb, BWV552 ('St. Anne's') Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
12	2.Fugue (a5)	6:33			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein, BWV668 Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
13	Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein, BWV668	4:30			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Well-tempered Clavier, Book 2, BWV870-893 Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
14	Prelude and Fugue No.11 in F, BWV880	5:35			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Wir glauben all an einen Gott, BWV680 Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
15	Wir glauben all an einen Gott, BWV680	2:42			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Well-tempered Clavier, Book 1, BWV846-869...Prelude and Fugue No.4 in C#-, BWV849 Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
16	2.Fugue	3:27			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer The Musical Offering, BWV1079...Part 1: 2 Ricercars Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
17	2.Ricercare a6	6:52			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Canon triplex a 6 voc., BWV1076 Work Fretwork Viol Ensemble
18	Canon triplex a 6 voc., BWV1076	1:08			$0.99