A new CD of Bach re-imagined for corno da tirarsi and organ.
Anneke Scott (corno da tirarsi) and Benedict Preece (organ)

2020 and the pandemic saw Anneke Scott work her way through all of Bach’s chorales on her corno da tirarsi as part of a project she entitled “Corno Not Corona”. Out of this was sparked the idea of a collaboration with organist Benedict Preece in which the pair would re-configure a number of Bach Chorale Preludes incorporating the corno da tirarsi on the chorale melodies.

The recording that resulted from this collaboration is a testament to the many ways in which musicians have had to be resourceful and resilient in this most testing of years for the arts. The two musicians recorded their contributions in isolation, with Benedict performing the organ part using Hauptwerk, a state-of-the-art virtual instrument. Hauptwerk contains high quality samples of some of the finest organs in the world and each stop is relayed through the software to enable organists to play the chosen organ from any location. For this recording Benedict selected the Muller organ of St Bavo Church, Haarlem.

Matching a “virtual” instrument is Anneke’s “hypothetical” corno da tirarsi (made by Egger in Switzerland). The corno da tirarsi has been a conundrum for many years. Bach wrote for the instrument but no instrument appears to survive. Normally Bach writes for the corno da tirarsi doubling soprano chorale melodies in his cantata, hence it feeling like an appropriate instrument to incorporate in his chorale preludes.

TRACK LISTING

1. Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g’mein, BWV 734

2. “Jesus bleibet meine Freude" (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring) from Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben BWV 147

3. Wo soll ich fliehen hin, BWV 646

4. Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn, BWV Anh.55

5. Wir Christenleut hab'n jetzund Freud, BWV 710

6. Fantasia super “Christ lag in Todes Banden”, BWV 695

7. Meine Seele erhebt den Herren, BWV 648

8. ‘ Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 645

9. Fantasia super 'Valet will ich dir geben', BWV 735

Total playing time 27 minutes