Bach wrote recorder solos in several concertos and vocal works; but his surviving oeuvre does not include any chamber or solo music for the instrument. This disc features one of the organ trio sonatas, two of the flute sonatas and one of the violin sonatas – all arranged for recorder and harpsichord. The program also includes two solo works: the partita for unaccompanied flute (transposed and arranged for alto recorder), and the E-flat major Prelude, Fugue and Allegro (BWV 998) for harpsichord.

Dorothee Oberlinger (who employs three different recorders in the course of this recital) and Christian Rieger make an excellent case for these convincing arrangements. Their articulate readings have a natural, spontaneous-sounding feel, reflecting their technical confidence and their incisive yet sensitive shaping of individual phrases and (in Oberlinger’s case) individual notes. The players maintain their mostly moderate tempi with natural steadiness, without ever seeming rigid or metronomic; even the fastest movements do not sound rushed. In the solo works, they sometimes play with greater rhythmic flexibility, yet without damaging the sense of unaffected flow.

The easeful rapport between the two players is enhanced by the recording balance. The recorder occasionally covers the harpsichord’s right hand, but such moments are few and far between; Bach’s textures mostly emerge with commendable clarity. In sum, this is a delightful recital, presenting recorder arrangements as viable alternatives to the original versions. Strongly recommended. URI GOLOMB