Album: Albrecht Mayer, Voices of Bach (Decca)

On Voices Of Bach, the Berlin Philharmonic's principal oboist Albrecht Mayer adapts the vocal melodies of Bach's cantatas to fit his instrument.

In Concerto for Oboe, several cantatas have been combined to create a new piece, elsewhere the Concerto for Oboe D'Amore features oboe lines transcribed from flute and soprano voice. There is also a series of shorter cantatas: the familiar undulating air of "Jesu bleibet meine Freude" is elevated by Mayer's oboe, while the chorale parades around his line; in "Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren", the oboe tiptoes in and around the chorale. Overall, a well-realised alliance of simpatico voicings.

Download this: Jesu bleibet meine Freude; Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren