Generations of piano students are very familiar with it: the “little book of notes” that the Thomaskantor compiled for his young wife. Many of the short minuets, marches or polonaises found their way into popular piano schools and became known worldwide. Some of the compositions are relatively easy to learn on the piano, and so many people think of a simple exercise book for instrumental pedagogical home use when they hear the word “little music book”. But as always with Bach, one does not do justice to the matter if one only looks at it superficially: Musically profound are all the pieces, and there are also technically demanding works such as the Partitas in A minor and C minor in the booklet. The compact Bach piano cosmos, presented unpretentiously by James Maddox, is completed by no less expressive vocal compositions, which Ingrid Schmithüsen makes shine with her bell-clear soprano.

“… Schmithüsen displays a light soprano as clear as a bell; it is a pleasure to listen to her.“
(Fono Forum 4/2006)

“A fantastic project – presenting the entire Notebook on one recording. And in a version in which the sound esthetics and interpretational approach harmonize coherently.“
(crescendo 7/2005)