Day 177
Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach: Die Amerikanerin
Magdalena Kožená
Musica antiqua köln
Reinhard Goebel
JCF Bach was the fourth son of JSB to become a composer, although of the four he is the least well known. This cantata for solo voice and strings is an attractive work dating from 1776. The title and the year are pure coincidence - although the piece is called the American woman it has nothing to do with the USA - it was originally entitled A Moor's Song and American seems to have been a catch all phrase meaning exotic.
For 1776 the music seems quite old fashioned - much of it is reminiscent of Handel, particularly the dotted rhythms in the opening movement, though some of it does sound more like Gluck. It is quite attractive in its way though not particularly memorable and it does rather just come to a stop rather than any sort of proper conclusion. It is obviously the work of a highly competent musician but I wouldn't put it any higher than that.
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