William Skeen - The Six Cello Suites of J.S. Bach - Import 2 CD

Credits:

William Skeen

Description:

Bach's Suites for Unaccompanied Cello" by William Skeen, a master of the American Baroque cello world, backed by years of experience and knowledge. The birth of a masterful recording of two historic instruments played in two different ways! Bach's Suites for Unaccompanied Cello (BWV 1007-1012) were reevaluated by the greatest cellist of the 20th century, Pablo Casals, and are now like giant peaks inescapable for cellists. The six cello suites are the only works Bach wrote for solo cello. Because of this background, the question of what form Bach intended to use is still hotly debated even 300 years after its composition, and the work continues to inspire players to take on new challenges. One of the most important questions is what kind of instrument should be used for optimal performance. Two different types of instruments are required to play the cello suites: the common four-stringed instruments (Nos. 1-5) and the five-stringed instruments (No. 6 only). In the recording being released, as noted above, No. 6 is performed on a 17th century five-string cello (violoncello piccolo). For Nos. 1-5, a Giovanni Gracino from 1725 is used. It has a warm, rich bass and bright, clear high notes. This instrument was also used by Walter Joachim, who was the principal cellist of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. And for No. 6, a five-stringed cello (violoncello piccolo), an instrument made in Italy in the 1680s (maker unknown) with a smaller body, a tasteful viola da gamba-like tone, and a well-balanced instrument that not only has brilliant high notes but also a full low register. The instrument belonged to Robert Trievers, an American biologist and amateur cellist. His parents, who were Jewish, came to the U.S. with this cello to escape the Nazis during World War II. William Skeen, who has served as principal cellist of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in San Francisco, Voices of Music, American Baroque Soloists, and other leading American Baroque orchestras, will be performing the Bach Suites. This is a unique recording of William Skeen's extensive knowledge and experience with Bach's unaccompanied cello suites. Reference Recordings

Tracklisting:

1.Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007~Prelude2.Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007~Allemande3.Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007~Courante4.Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007~Sarabande5.Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007~Menuets I & II6.Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007~Gigue7.Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011~Prelude8.Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011~Allemande9.Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011~Courante10.Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011~Sarabande11.Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011~Gavottes I & II12.Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011~Gigue13.Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010~Prelude14.Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010~Allemande15.Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010~Courante16.Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010~Sarabande17.Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010~Bourrees I & II18.Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010~Gigue1.Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009~Prelude2.Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009~Allemande3.Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009~Courante4.Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009~Sarabande5.Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009~Bourrees I & II6.Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009~Gigue7.Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008~Prelude8.Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008~Allemande9.Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008~Courante10.Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008~Sarabande11.Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008~Menuets I & II12.Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008~Gigue13.Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012~Prelude14.Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012~Allemande15.Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012~Courante16.Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012~Sarabande17.Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012~Gavottes I & II18.Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012~Gigue
1.Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007~Prelude
2.Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007~Allemande
3.Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007~Courante
4.Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007~Sarabande
5.Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007~Menuets I & II
6.Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007~Gigue
7.Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011~Prelude
8.Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011~Allemande
9.Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011~Courante
10.Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011~Sarabande
11.Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011~Gavottes I & II
12.Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011~Gigue
13.Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010~Prelude
14.Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010~Allemande
15.Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010~Courante
16.Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010~Sarabande
17.Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010~Bourrees I & II
18.Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010~Gigue
1.Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009~Prelude
2.Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009~Allemande
3.Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009~Courante
4.Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009~Sarabande
5.Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009~Bourrees I & II
6.Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009~Gigue
7.Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008~Prelude
8.Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008~Allemande
9.Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008~Courante
10.Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008~Sarabande
11.Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008~Menuets I & II
12.Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008~Gigue
13.Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012~Prelude
14.Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012~Allemande
15.Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012~Courante
16.Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012~Sarabande
17.Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012~Gavottes I & II
18.Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012~Gigue