Swiss cellist Thomas Demenga returns to Bach’s suites. “To me, Bach is the greatest musical genius who has ever lived. His music is pure, sublime. It possesses something divine and each musician has a lifetime in which to discover new ways of interpreting it.” Demenga previously recorded the cello suites for ECM between 1986 and 2002, juxtaposing them with contemporary composition in albums that count as milestones in the early history of the New Series. This new double album however is devoted entirely to Bach and the six suites. Many years of playing and studying every aspect of them, from source manuscripts to different tempos, embellishments, fingerings and bowings, have brought Demenga to the heart of the music – which Bach himself described as the only goal. This new account of the music was recorded at the Hans Huber Saal in Basel. (Simultaneously with the 2-CD set ECM is issuing a vinyl album with the Préludes and Sarabandes from the suites).
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - SUITE I G-DUR BWV 1007
1
Prélude
02:19
2
Allemande
04:06
3
Courante
02:23
4
Sarabande
02:26
5
Menuet I & II
03:18
6
Gigue
01:38
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - SUITE II D-MOLL BWV 1008
7
Prélude
03:55
8
Allemande
03:42
9
Courante
01:58
10
Sarabande
03:49
11
Menuet I & II
03:00
12
Gigue
02:44
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - SUITE III C-DUR BWV 1009
13
Prélude
03:07
14
Allemande
03:48
15
Courante
02:55
16
Sarabande
03:29
17
Bourrée I & II
03:35
18
Gigue
03:13
CD 2
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - SUITE IV ES-DUR BWV 1010
1
Prélude
03:50
2
Allemande
04:10
3
Courante
03:17
4
Sarabande
03:07
5
Bourrée I & II
04:25
6
Gigue
02:58
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - SUITE V C-MOLL BWV 1011
7
Prélude
05:37
8
Allemande
04:39
9
Courante
02:11
10
Sarabande
03:13
11
Gavotte I & II
04:45
12
Gigue
02:32
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - SUITE VI D-DUR BWV 1012
13
Prélude
04:34
14
Allemande
08:12
15
Courante
03:31
16
Sarabande
04:52
17
Gavotte I & II
03:09
18
Gigue
04:14