Some of my favorite pieces by my favorite Baroque composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. Performed on virtual instruments using an Akai EWI USB (wind controller).

Castle Consort plays Bach

The poignant 'Agnus Dei' from Bach's Mass in B Minor, with the alto part performed here on virtual trumpet ("The Trumpet" from Samplemodeling). Other instruments include 4 violins (solo violin playing duet with trumpet + 3 other violins playing in unison during trumpet tacits), cello, contrabass, and Baroque organ.

Bach:  Mass In B Minor, BWV 232 - Agnus Dei - Trumpet (updated 2016.06.03)

Second movement of J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 1, performed on virtual instruments (3 Baroque oboes, Baroque bassoon, strings, harpsichord), using a wind controller (Akai EWI USB). Double reeds by Wallander Instruments.

Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1, BWV 1046 - 2. Adagio (2013.10.05)

The second movement of Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major — better known as "Air on the G String" — performed on virtual strings, harpsichord, and The Trumpet from Samplemodeling.

J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068, 2. Air - trumpet(2013.11.17)

Minuet from J.S. Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 2 (BWV 1067), featuring Samplemodeling's flute.

J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 2, BWV 1067 - Minuet (2014.05.10)

Minuets 1 and 2 from J.S. Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 1. Performed on virtual instruments: 2 Baroque oboes (in unison), Baroque bassoon, strings (including viola da gamba), and harpsichord.

J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C, BWV 1066 - Minuets 1 & 2 (2014.06.28)

First movement of J.S. Bach's Sonata In E Minor, featuring flute (from Samplemodeling) and continuo: Baroque bassoon from Wallander Instruments, and Flemish harpsichord from the Conservatoire Collection (SonicCouture).

J.S. Bach: Flute Sonata in E Minor, BWV 1034 - 1. Adagio ma non tanto (2014.07.05)

Second movement (Largo) of Bach's famous Concert for 2 violins in D minor, performed on virtual strings (Aria/EWI by Garritan) with the Viola from Samplemodeling on the viola part. Continuo includes theorbo from the Conservatoire Collection by SonicCouture.

Bach: Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043 - 2. Largo ma non tanto (2015.11.30)

Instrumental opening of J.S. Bach's Cantata "Christ Lag In Todesbanden," performed on virtual instruments: strings, chamber organ, and theorbo. 

Bach: Cantata "Christ Lag In Todesbanden,"  BWV 4 - 1. Sinfonia (2016.03.12)

Bach: An Wasserflüssen Babylon,  BWV 653b - Organ (2016.05.26)

Bach's famous chorale «An Wasserflüssen Babylon» sung by the Castle Boys Choir (Mercury Symphonic Boychoir from Soundiron) accompanied by organ (Stiehr-Mockers).

Bach: An Wasserflüssen Babylon, BWV 267 - Boys choir (2016.05.29)

Second movement of Bach's second Brandenburg Concerto, featuring a trio of recorder, oboe and violin with continuo. Performed on virtual instruments: recorder and oboe (Wallander instruments), violin and cello (Samplemodeling), and harpsichord (Soniccouture), using a wind controller (Akai EWI USB).

Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, BWV 1047 - 2. Andante - 2017.01.13

First movement ("Sinfonia") of Bach's Easter Oratorio, performed on virtual instruments: 3 trumpets, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings, organ, and timpani. Trumpets and strings from Samplemodeling; Baroque oboe and bassoon from Wallander Instruments. DAW: Logic Pro X. Controller: Akai EWI USB. Reverb: Reverberate 2.
Updated 2018.03.31: Version 2.0.1 of Audio Modeling strings.

Bach: Easter Oratorio, BWV 249 - 1. Sinfonia (2017.04.16)

First movement of J.S. Bach's Cantata No. 35, featuring pipe organ with orchestra: 4 first violins, 3 second violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, bass, 2 Baroque oboes, oboe da caccia (cor anglais), Baroque bassoon.

Bach: Cantata "Geist und Seele wird verwirret”, BWV 35 - 1. Sinfonia (2017.04.30)

Bach's famous Passacaglia (and Fugue) in C minor, featuring the Toccata virtual pipe organ from Sonokinetic (https://www.sonokinetic.net/products/classical/toccata/). A very relaxing snippet of classical music performed on piano caught my attention while watching a dystopian sci-fi movie the other night; it turns out it was an excerpt from this Passacaglia. I wanted to replicate that feel, but it was originally written for pipe organ, and I felt that only an organ could do it justice. (I tried a couple other possibilities, but wasn't satisfied with them.) Nonetheless, I wanted to maintain as much gentleness as possible, and not resort to pulling out all sorts of stops, as many modern pipe organ players are prone to do. Actually, the score hinted that the drama would build up just fine without adding anything to it (except for some careful interpretation, of course). So, I used a very simple flute registration, and maintained it throughout the piece. Although some judicious registration could enhance the piece, I wanted the composition to speak for itself, and I think it works just fine "as is". For a very tasteful interpretation, with delightful registration, check out organist Ulf Norberg on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfAzR2Ut-jM; and at the other extreme, pipe organ superstar Cameron Carpenter does his fast and highly registrated take at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UxIcKJyZZE

Bach: Passacaglia & Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 (2018.01.20)

Bach:  BWV 972 - 3. Allegro - 2013.06.02

Bach: BWV 972 - 2. Larghetto - 2013.06.02

Bach: BWV 972 - 1. Allegro - 2013.06.02

Exploring the potential for using virtual instruments to create a realistic early music sound, with an emphasis on Baroque music. ¶ Esplorante la eblecon por uzi virtualajn instrumentojn por krei realisman fru-muzikan sonon, kun emfazo je baroka muziko.

Castle Consort plays Bach

Jason Castle