Harpsichord Concerto No. 2 E Major BWV 1053

Johann Sebastian Bach’s harpsichord concertos, which are hugely popular today, once offered the composer a real field for experimentation. Bach often used pre-existing material. Thus, there is much to indicate that the E-major Concerto BWV 1053 is based on earlier concertante movements for a woodwind instrument (presumably oboe or oboe d’amore). In the revision, Bach naturally intervened deeply in the music and optimised the harpsichord solo part in particular with regard to the diverse expressive possibilities of the keyboard instrument. The present performance material fits perfectly to the Henle piano reduction of the same work. In the best Urtext quality, it offers a clearly laid out conducting score and practically configured orchestral parts, which are available both individually as well as in a reasonably priced set.