For this arrangement, I chose not to use an actual recorder for the recorder part, unlike for the first movement. The distribution of instruments is as follows: Concertino Trumpet: soprano melodica Recorder: soprano melodica Oboe: alto melodica Violin: alto melodica Ripieno: Vln 1, Vln 2, Vla: alto melodica Continuo: alto melodica Cello: bass melodica Bass: [...]

The final movement of Bach’s 6th Brandenburg Concerto required a significant amount of arranging before it could be played on melodicas. There were several passages in the solo viola parts that needed to be moved, and most of the 2nd gamba part was out of the range of the alto melodica. In most cases I [...]

The first movement Allegro from Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto number 1 is built upon the conversational interplay among the 4 instrument groups: horns, reeds, high strings, and continuo. Bach mixes and matches them in all possible ways in between their simultaneous presentation and dismissal at the works beginning and end. It was therefore important for me [...]

With 10 solo parts divided into three trio groups and continuo, this semi-lengthy movement required the use of at least 9 individual video tracks in order to make it work. Because of the natural size restrictions that embedded video presents, I needed to make three sets of individual movies with 3 soloists each and then [...]

This is the first Bach project that can accurately be called an arrangement.  There are several elements in Bach’s brief yet jubilant finale from the Fourth Brandenburg Concerto that are problematic for the purposes of direct transcription.  First, the solo violin part is exceptionally virtuosic, with long roulades and distinct bowed arpeggios.  This doesn’t transfer [...]

I have recently discovered that the complete contents of the Bach-Gesellschaft, containing all the published works of Bach, are availablle online. Wikipedia lists three sources, one of them has PDF files, but the link is busted, hacked, or both.  The other resource is located at the IMSLP, but the files are listed separately, and the user [...]