I'm no classical officianado, and admit to a preference for the lyrical and melodic over the dramatic and intense. This group of what would, in today's parlance, probably be thought of as "tunes", god forbid, was co-created by Bach with the recipient of his offering, king Frederick II of Prussia, himself a composer and flutist. Bach's son, CPE, was an employed musician in Frederick's court, and was asked by his boss to get his father, "old Bach", to come and play with the king's "band". Bach appeared after a long day's journey, mostly as a kindness to his son, and this music grew from a collaboration between Frederick and Bach.
I like the story and love the music, which offers up a delightful strand of seemingly disconnected melodies landing in my ears as a bounty of joyful whimsy, cast amongst flute, harpsichord/piano, violin, viola de gambo and cello, in spritely contrapunctual Bachian style. The sound quality and instrumentalists are, to my unpolished ear, stunningly sharp and clear.
I'm not sure I understand where the "Canons on the first eight notes of the aria from the Goldberg Variations" fit in to this sweet gem, but to say they seem simply an extension of the lovely, if shortish, pieces which come before. Probably I love this CD because Goldberg Variations are one of my very favorite Bach creations, having been introduced to them from a front-row folding chair in St. Chapelle, Paris.
May these musical offerings of Bach bring you the tickling merriment they brought to me, so pleasant, in fact, that I was inspired to write this first ever music review. Enjoy.