Johann Christian Bach was the youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach, who came into the care of his Berlin half-brother Carl Philipp Emanuel after the death of his father. Christian was apparently loved as the "Benjamin" of the family. His father invented it, at least in testamentary fashion, with no fewer than three harpsichords. And yet Christian would be far removed from his Lutheran roots and
… the Kapellmeister traditions cherished by his family. During a study trip to Italy, he converted not only to Catholicism, but also to Italian opera and the Palestrina counterpoint. His counterpoint teacher Padre Martini was apparently like a second father to him. The Requiem parts Introitus & Kyrie on this CD were almost certainly part of the homework that Bach had to do for Father Martini. In the following sequence (Dies Irae), Bach showed a more modern and theatrical side (apart from the old-fashioned multi-choral setup). Another special feature is the Miserere from the same period, whose serene and sometimes light-footed music contrasts beautifully with the text of the penitential palm. (HJ)more
