Most of the works recorded here have a serious demeanour, with dense textures, richly ornamented melodies, and a wide expressive range. There are, however, lighter pieces - Lully's Chaconne is more immediately engaging, and there is much zest and vivacity in Zachow's and Fabricius's gigues and Böhm's Capriccio (though his Suite is perhaps the most uncompromisingly serious work in this recital).

Bach's pieces contain some of the lightest, most extrovert moments here - such as the brilliant "Aire pour les Trompettes" in the A major Suite, and the Posthorn-inspired "Arie" and "Fuga" which conclude his Capriccio. The Toccata (a rarely-heard alternative version of the Toccata BWV 912) covers almost the entire expressive range of the disc as a whole, and acts as a highly effective curtain-raiser for this engrossing recital.