Jan. 16: Violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing Releases New Sony Classical Album Colors Of Bach – New Single Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben Variation Out Today
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Violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing
Reveals Entirely New Colors in Bach’s Music on New Sony Classical Album
Colors Of Bach
New Single Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben Variation Out Today
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Worldwide Album Release Date: January 16, 2026
Pre-Order Available Now
On her new Sony Classical album, Colors Of Bach, set for release on January 16, 2026 violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing reimagines the depth and richness of J.S. Bach’s music through entirely new arrangements, offering fresh emotional perspectives and contemporary soundscapes.
Intricate, layered, and ultimately playful, the album draws inspiration from the structural ingenuity and expressive beauty that define each of the 20 selected masterpieces. By quite literally bringing new colors into Bach’s works—through tone, harmony, and emotion—renowned arrangers Tim Allhoff, Jan-Peter Klöpfel, and Jarkko Riihimäki cast familiar masterpieces in a renewed light. At the core of this project lies a shared artistic philosophy: to expand, rethink, and reshape Bach’s music without ever diminishing it. The arrangers draw strength from the positive and universal nature of his themes and harmonies, aiming to preserve the inherent optimism that runs through his work. From the whimsical brilliance of the “Partita No. 3 Variation” to the profoundly emotional reimagining of Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto,” iconic melodies breathe renewed vitality, opening new emotional dimensions while maintaining deep respect for the original compositions. Some arrangements introduce fresh harmonic contexts, while others explore entirely new instrumentations. The dense and melodic treatment of the “Organ Prelude in C Major” transitions seamlessly into a virtuosic solo violin and string orchestra rendition, creating a captivating musical experience. “Air” adopts the elegance of an Italian concerto, while the beloved “Erbarme Dich” from the “St. Matthew Passion” is reimagined as an intimate instrumental ballad. Together, these inventive arrangements showcase the adaptability and timelessness of Bach’s music, resulting in a striking kaleidoscope of musical colors.
“Bach is such a genius composer,” Eldbjørg Hemsing reflects, “that there are endless ways to look at the shapes and forms that make up his pieces. Every melody Bach composed contains an intriguing duality of being highly technical, yet profoundly emotional; and, thus, there are endless possibilities for reinterpretation.” COLORS OF BACH is a tribute to his perennial musicality—one that invites the listener on a journey of playful exploration. Through a kaleidoscope of emotional imagery, with its vibrant swells and lyrical releases, each piece recaptures and recolors its original form.
At its heart, the album exudes joy, hope, and, ultimately, playfulness. “We wanted to create an opportunity for the audience to reconnect with such important pieces of history,” Eldbjørg notes. “And, perhaps, this time, discovering their own interpretation of it in the process.”
One of the album’s most emotional transformations is “Air.” Often associated with funerals and farewells, it holds a deeply personal meaning for Eldbjørg: “This piece is one of the most important ones I’ve ever played,” she shares. “It was performed at my father’s funeral, and I’ve always associated it with the devastation of having lost him. But that’s not how I want to remember him. Music is so powerful that it can determine our emotional associations. So, by giving this piece a new perspective, I have the opportunity to decide how I want to connect with the music. And that’s truly the spirit of this album.”
By offering fresh ways to connect with timeless pieces, COLORS OF BACH brings Bach from the past into the present. With its joyful surprises and soulful arrangements, this album invites both new and experienced listeners to rediscover the infinite colors within Bach’s music.
COLORS OF BACH was recorded in the studio of the Oslo Opera House with an all-star ensemble featuring some of the city’s finest string players: Elise Båtnes, 1st violin; Liv Hilde Klokk-Bryhn and Maria Carlsen, 2nd violins; Ida Bryhn, viola; Louisa Tuck, cello; Kenneth Ryland, bass. Tim Allhoff joins them on piano, with Christian Kjos on harpsichord.
ELDBJØRG HEMSING: COLORS OF BACH – Release Date: January 16, 2026
Tracklist:
Bach Partita Variation (After Violin Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 100: I. Preludio) Arr. for Violin, String Quintet & Piano by Tim Allhoff
Ertönt uns durch dein Güte Variation (After Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe, BWV 22, No. 5: Ertöt uns durch dein Güte) Arr. for Violin, String Quintet & Piano by Jan-Peter Klöpfel
Ave Maria Variation (After The Well-Tempered Clavier I: Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C Major, BWV 846: I. Prelude) Arr. for Violin, String Quintet and Piano by Tim Allhoff
Minuet in G Major Variation (After Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, BWV Anh.116, No. 7: Menuet in G Major) Arr. for Violin, String Quintet & Piano by Jan-Peter Klöpfel
Concerto in A Minor Variation (After Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, BWV 1041: II. Andante) Arr. for Violin, String Quintet & Piano by Jan-Peter Klöpfel
Melancholy Variation (After Concerto for Violin & Oboe in C Minor, BWV 1060R: III. Allegro) Arr. for Violin, Accordion, String Quintet & Piano by Jan-Peter Klöpfel
Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben Variation (After Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147: VI. Wohl mir, daß ich Jesum habe) Arr. for Violin, String Quintet & Piano by Jan-Peter Klöpfel
Air Variation (After Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068: II. Air) Arr. for Violin & String Quintet by Tim Allhoff
Bach Brandenburg Concerto Revisited (After Brandenburg Concerto No.1 in F Major, BWV 1046: I. Allegro) Arr. for Violin, String Quintet & Piano by Jarkko Riihimäki
Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier, BWV 469 Arr. for Violin, String Quintet & Piano by Jan-Peter Klöpfel
Aria Goldberg Variation (After Goldberg Variations, BVW 988: Aria) Arr. for Violin, String Quintet & Piano by Tim Allhoff
Prelude in C Major Variation (After Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 553: I. Prelude) Arr. for Violin, String Quintet & Piano by Tim Allhoff
Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit Variation (After Nun freut euch, lieben Christen gmein, BWV 734) Arr. for Violin, String Quintet & Piano by Jarkko Riihimäki
Invention in F Major Variation (After Invention in F Major, BWV 779) Arr. for Violin & String Quintet by Jan-Peter Klöpfel
Organ Sonata Variation (After Organ Sonata No. 4 in E Minor, BWV 528: II. Andante) Arr. for Violin & String Quintet by Tim Allhoff
Befiehl du deine Wege Variation (After Matthäuspassion, BWV 244, No. 53: Befiehl du deine Wege) Arr. for Violin & String Quintet by Tim Allhoff
Erbarme dich, mein Gott Variation (After Matthäuspassion, BWV 244, No. 47: Erbarme dich, mein Gott) Arr. for Violin, String Quintet & Piano by Tim Allhoff
Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ Variation (After Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639) Arr. for Violin, Cello & Piano by Tim Allhoff
Concerto in D Minor Variation (After Concerto in D Minor, BWV 974: III. Presto) Arr. for Violin & String Quintet by Jan-Peter Klöpfel
Violin Concerto No. 2 in E Minor, BWV 1042
20. I. Allegro
21. II. Adagio
22. III. Allegro assai
23. Choral Aria Variation (After Widerstehe doch der Sünde, BWV 54: I. Aria) Arr. for Violin & String Quintet by Tim Allhoff
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