Choir of Clare College Cambridge, Timothy Brown - Bach Family Motets (1996)

The Bach dynasty produced an astonishing number of fine musicians. Of course, the great Johann Sebastian towers over them all, and his sons, Carl Philipp Emanuel, Johann Christoph and Wilhelm Friedemann exerted a considerable influence upon the musical world of their time, providing the link from the Baroque to the Classical.

However, less is known about the Bach family’s composers before Johann Sebastian. This CD contains motets by his great uncle Johann, born in 1604, and cousin Johann Ludwig, born just seven years before him. The greatest of the Bach family composers on this disc is Johann Christoph. He was a strong influence upon his cousin, Johann Sebastian, who wrote of him as being ‘a profound composer’.

All the works here were known to Johann Sebastian, who had in his possession an archive of many of the Bach family works. The music provides a fascinating musical journey through nearly 100 years of the composers of the Bach family prior to Johann Sebastian, and illustrates vividly the influences upon his religious beliefs, and how they helped to shape his compositions for the church.

Recording dates from 1995

Historically informed recordings

The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge has established a fine reputation for Baroque music performance, working with René Jacobs and Nicholas McGegan. They have made a number of recordings for Brilliant Classics.