It is almost impossible to tell from listening to them that Bach’s extremely popular concerti for harpsichord were probably his own transcriptions of solo concerti which had originally been composed for violin or a woodwind instrument. The outer movements of the second concerto, in E major, probably written around 1738, sparkle with joy, while the expressive melodic lines of the middle movement, the Siciliano in C-sharp minor, transport the listener to the realm of his Passion music.G.

Henle...