Jess Gillam - Allegro Assai, CPE Bach

Listen and order here: https://jessgillam.lnk.to/SHINEID The music of C.P.E. Bach, one of J.S. Bach’s many children, is bonkers. In many ways, C.P.E. was ahead of his time, with his music bridging the gap between the baroque and classical eras. The piece was originally for flute, cello or harpsichord, and in a weird sort of way the soprano saxophone sits between all of those sounds. Playing this piece is like visiting a rave in the 1700s– the energy is bombastic with its storm and drama, skittish characters and constant drive. You’ll hear the bigger string group playing on this piece – we only had a short time to get it together but their collective sound in the room was pretty electrifying! Simon Parkin, the arranger, manages to take us somewhere totally unexpected in the cadenza (he does keep us on our toes, hinting at it throughout the arrangement) and I hope C.P.E. Bach would have approved. 🎻 Max Baillie, Ali Vennart, Hadewych van Gent, Sam Becker 🎹 Leif Kaner-Lidström 🎧 Bjarte Eike, Will Purton, Sam Becker + me