Concerto 009

The world premiere of J. S. Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, performed on the original instruments listed by Bach in his original manuscript. HD Video by the Early Music ensemble Voices of Music.

The fourth Brandenburg concerto is unusual in that Bach specifically calls for "echo flutes", or "fiauti d'echo". For many years musicologists have debated what an "echo flute" exactly is, and have also uncovered a great deal of historical detail, but the work is usually performed with two alto recorders.

In his autograph manuscript of Brandenburg 4 (BWV 1049), Bach writes the title as follows:
Concerto 4to à Violino Principale, due Fiauti d'Echo, due Violini, una Viola è Violone in Ripieno, Violoncello è Continuo.