Adagio and Fugue D minor

Though A.E. Brachvogel’s portrayal of the "failed genius“ in his biography about W.F. Bach drew an impressive picture of the inner turmoil of the eldest Bach son's personality, it is rather unproductive for the understanding of his music. However, legends often or mostly contain a core of truth: There is no doubt that the highly gifted musician failed because of the overwhelming example of his father (as composer) particularly since he was on the threshold from one epoch to another.
In the adagio, both flute parts rising above the string orchestra are assigned a quality of expression that can already be related to the "sentimental" age whereas the second movement, a more or less strict string fugue, is rooted in the tradition-conscious baroque period.