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Brilliant Classics

J.S. Bach: 6 English Suites, BWV 806-811

Baroque Spiritual Virtuosic Uplifting Dramatic
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Details

Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach
Artist
Wolfgang Rubsam
Format
CD
Label
Brilliant Classics
Released
Feb 07, 2025
Catalog #
BRI97554
UPC
5028421975542

About

A veteran Bach specialist continues his Bach odyssey on Brilliant Classics with a new recording of the English Suites. Previous volumes in this series have met with wide critical acclaim. Of the French Suites, Jed Distler wrote in Classics Today: 'a splendid new recording... these lovely performances memorably showcase Rubsam's sensitive and poetic side.' While Rubsam has been playing and recording Bach's music for over half a century, he brings a fresh perspective, both to the works themselves and his approach to them, by performing on a lute-harpsichord, known in German as a lautenwerk. Of the complete Well-Tempered Clavier, the Gramophone reviewer remarked: 'Like his other Bach recordings using the Lautenwerk, including the French Suites, the so-called Lute Suites and beautiful arrangements of the Cello Suites and Violin Sonatas and Partitas, these are revelatory... one thing's for certain: you'll never listen to any of Bach's music in the same way again.' Bach himself owned a pair of Lautenwerk, and so Rubsam is returning this music to the scale on which it was conceived: more intimate than nearly all the competition on record, perfectly suited to close studio recording and domestic listening. The Suites themselves are hardly English in character (Bach probably wrote them for an English patron) but rather French, more developed in scale and expression than the earlier French Suites, especially in the Third and Sixth of the set. Movements such as the Overture to No.2 and the Sarabande of No.3 have inspired some of the greatest keyboard musicians - on various instruments - to sound the depths of their artistry. Wolfgang Rubsam does so here, yet with a humility that draws the ear back to Bach himself, to the wondrous intricacy of his polyphony, and his particular genius for embodying the character of a dance through the natural shape of his melodies. - The complete 6 English Suites by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), played on the lute-harpsichord by Wolfgang Rubsam. - There is little "English" about these suites. Their name might have been given as a tribute to Charles Diepart, whose 6 English Suites were very popular at the time. Bach's English Suites follow the traditional sequence of dance movements of the Suite. The writing is mature and technically demanding. The English Suites, along with the French Suites and Partitas, are part of the standard keyboard repertoire. - Wolfgang Rubsam is internationally known as an authoritative Bach interpreter, from recordings of the organ and harpsichord on several different labels. This new recording is played on a lute-harpsichord, an instrument that Bach would have had at home for both music-making in the family and for teaching. The touch required and the sonority produced is delicate, subtly shaded and closely related in it's effect to the music of Bach's French contemporaries, whose music he knew well, such as Francois Couperin, Jean-Philippe Rameau and Louis Marchand. The sound is warmer, as it has gut strings and no dampers.

Tracklist 49 tracks

  1. 1 I. Prelude 02:35
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Prelude
    Duration
    02:35
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  2. 2 II. Allemande 06:22
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Allemande
    Duration
    06:22
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  3. 3 III. Courante I 02:29
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Courante I
    Duration
    02:29
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  4. 4 IV. Courante II 02:57
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Courante II
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  5. 5 V. Double I 01:55
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. Double I
    Duration
    01:55
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  6. 6 VI. Double II 01:06
    Track
    6
    Title
    VI. Double II
    Duration
    01:06
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  7. 7 VII. Sarabande 04:56
    Track
    7
    Title
    VII. Sarabande
    Duration
    04:56
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  8. 8 VIII. Bourree I 01:49
    Track
    8
    Title
    VIII. Bourree I
    Duration
    01:49
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  9. 9 IX. Bourree II 01:07
    Track
    9
    Title
    IX. Bourree II
    Duration
    01:07
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  10. 10 X. Bourree I (da capo) 01:31
    Track
    10
    Title
    X. Bourree I (da capo)
    Duration
    01:31
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  11. 11 XI. Gigue 02:43
    Track
    11
    Title
    XI. Gigue
    Duration
    02:43
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  12. 12 I. Prelude 08:08
    Track
    12
    Title
    I. Prelude
    Duration
    08:08
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  13. 13 II. Allemande 03:41
    Track
    13
    Title
    II. Allemande
    Duration
    03:41
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  14. 14 III. Courante 01:53
    Track
    14
    Title
    III. Courante
    Duration
    01:53
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  15. 15 IV. Sarabande 03:44
    Track
    15
    Title
    IV. Sarabande
    Duration
    03:44
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  16. 16 V. Bourree I 02:19
    Track
    16
    Title
    V. Bourree I
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  17. 17 V. Bourree II 02:48
    Track
    17
    Title
    V. Bourree II
    Duration
    02:48
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  18. 18 VI. Gigue 02:23
    Track
    18
    Title
    VI. Gigue
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  19. 19 I. Prélude 05:22
    Track
    19
    Title
    I. Prélude
    Duration
    05:22
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  20. 20 II. Allemande 03:38
    Track
    20
    Title
    II. Allemande
    Duration
    03:38
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  21. 21 III. Courante 02:19
    Track
    21
    Title
    III. Courante
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  22. 22 IV. Sarabande 02:33
    Track
    22
    Title
    IV. Sarabande
    Duration
    02:33
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  23. 23 V. Gavotte I and II 03:19
    Track
    23
    Title
    V. Gavotte I and II
    Duration
    03:19
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  24. 24 VI. Gigue 03:49
    Track
    24
    Title
    VI. Gigue
    Duration
    03:49
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  25. 25 I. Prelude 07:23
    Track
    25
    Title
    I. Prelude
    Duration
    07:23
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  26. 26 II. Allemande 03:01
    Track
    26
    Title
    II. Allemande
    Duration
    03:01
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  27. 27 III. Courante 01:36
    Track
    27
    Title
    III. Courante
    Duration
    01:36
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  28. 28 IV. Sarabande 02:21
    Track
    28
    Title
    IV. Sarabande
    Duration
    02:21
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  29. 29 V. Menuett I 01:14
    Track
    29
    Title
    V. Menuett I
    Duration
    01:14
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  30. 30 V. Menuet II 01:08
    Track
    30
    Title
    V. Menuet II
    Duration
    01:08
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  31. 31 V. Menuet I (da capo) 00:52
    Track
    31
    Title
    V. Menuet I (da capo)
    Duration
    00:52
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  32. 32 VI. Gigue 04:32
    Track
    32
    Title
    VI. Gigue
    Duration
    04:32
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  33. 33 I. Prelude 08:39
    Track
    33
    Title
    I. Prelude
    Duration
    08:39
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  34. 34 II. Allemande 02:39
    Track
    34
    Title
    II. Allemande
    Duration
    02:39
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  35. 35 III. Courante 02:27
    Track
    35
    Title
    III. Courante
    Duration
    02:27
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  36. 36 IV. Sarabande 02:35
    Track
    36
    Title
    IV. Sarabande
    Duration
    02:35
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  37. 37 V. Passepied I 01:45
    Track
    37
    Title
    V. Passepied I
    Duration
    01:45
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  38. 38 V. Passepied II 01:10
    Track
    38
    Title
    V. Passepied II
    Duration
    01:10
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  39. 39 V. Passepied I (da capo) 01:49
    Track
    39
    Title
    V. Passepied I (da capo)
    Duration
    01:49
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  40. 40 VI. Gigue 04:35
    Track
    40
    Title
    VI. Gigue
    Duration
    04:35
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  41. 41 I. Prelude 11:43
    Track
    41
    Title
    I. Prelude
    Duration
    11:43
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  42. 42 II. Allemande 02:45
    Track
    42
    Title
    II. Allemande
    Duration
    02:45
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  43. 43 III. Courante 02:56
    Track
    43
    Title
    III. Courante
    Duration
    02:56
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  44. 44 IV. Sarabande 01:57
    Track
    44
    Title
    IV. Sarabande
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  45. 45 IV. Double 02:08
    Track
    45
    Title
    IV. Double
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  46. 46 V. Gavotte I 01:32
    Track
    46
    Title
    V. Gavotte I
    Duration
    01:32
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  47. 47 V. Gavotte II 01:15
    Track
    47
    Title
    V. Gavotte II
    Duration
    01:15
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  48. 48 V. Gavotte I (da capo) 01:19
    Track
    48
    Title
    V. Gavotte I (da capo)
    Duration
    01:19
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam
  49. 49 VI. Gigue 02:25
    Track
    49
    Title
    VI. Gigue
    Duration
    02:25
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Wolfgang Rübsam