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Brilliant Classics

Weiss & Bach: Suite SW47 / La Rocca, Lazari

Baroque Spiritual Virtuosic Uplifting Dramatic
$12.99

Details

Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Silvius Leopold Weiss
Artist
Alberto La Rocca, Carlo Lazari
Format
CD
Label
Brilliant Classics
Released
Jul 12, 2024
Catalog #
BRI97139
UPC
5028421971391

About

This recording features a work with a strange coincidence in it's compositional process and an astonishing dual authorship. Remarkably, Silvius Leopold Weiss's Lute Suite SW47 (which he named Suonata) also comes with a violin part that can be played over the top of it, composed by none other than Johann Sebastian Bach. A recent comparison of sources revealed that the harpsichord part in Bach's Suite for Violin & Harpsichord BWV1025, long considered to be of doubtful attribution, perfectly matches Weiss's suite. The violin part, meanwhile, was indeed composed entirely by Bach and is an additional melody independent of Weiss's musical material. It feels almost like a 'free improvisation' above the suite and recalls a similar process carried out by Charles Gounod in 1859: his Ave Maria fits over the first Prelude from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier BWV846. The sole exception is the Fantasia movement in Bach's piece, which is not derived from Weiss's suite, meaning both the violin and harpsichord parts in it are unique to Bach. This recording presents Weiss's suite on it's own and with the addition of Bach's violin part, both versions arranged by guitarist Alberto La Rocca for his instrument in place of the lute or harpsichord. (The all-Bach Fantasia is not included in the version without violin.) Weiss's Suite (Suonata) is a high-quality work composed for a 13-course Baroque lute. It is rarely, if ever, performed by either lute or guitar players, yet it contains all the best features of the great German lutenist's oeuvre: a refined and elegant compositional style and a varied range of expression. Bach's 'added melody', composed with his usual superhuman ability, shines a new light on the original suite, as if dressing it up in extraordinarily elegant attire. The violin part comments on the original lute texture without suffocating it, almost like a free improvisation above it. It plays with the various elements of Weiss's music, extrapolating ideas for themes, imitating them or simply wandering freely. Bach's part is also highly imaginative and varied in it's expression, frequently adding complex rhythmic dovetailing and significant virtuosity while always staying true to the emotions of Weiss's movements. Bach and Weiss were friends and met on several occasions. Johann Friedrich Reichardt even describes them challenging each other to an improvisation competition: 'Anyone who understands the challenge of playing harmonic modulations and decent counterpoint on the lute will be surprised and amazed to hear an eyewitness say that Weiss, the great lutenist, competed with J.S. Bach, the great harpsichordist and organist, in playing fantasies and fugues.' While the origins of his 'transcription with accompaniment' of Weiss's Suite SW47 are still a mystery, the fact remains that we can now enjoy a unique and unusual masterpiece, which these two brilliant composers had a hand in writing.

Tracklist 13 tracks

  1. 1 I. Entrée 03:42
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Entrée
    Duration
    03:42
    Composer
    Silvius Leopold Weiss
    Performer
    Carlo Lazari, Alberto La Rocca
  2. 2 II. Currante 04:43
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Currante
    Duration
    04:43
    Composer
    Silvius Leopold Weiss
    Performer
    Carlo Lazari, Alberto La Rocca
  3. 3 III. Rondeau 03:16
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Rondeau
    Duration
    03:16
    Composer
    Silvius Leopold Weiss
    Performer
    Carlo Lazari, Alberto La Rocca
  4. 4 IV. Sarabande 05:29
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Sarabande
    Duration
    05:29
    Composer
    Silvius Leopold Weiss
    Performer
    Carlo Lazari, Alberto La Rocca
  5. 5 V. Allegro 05:10
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. Allegro
    Duration
    05:10
    Composer
    Silvius Leopold Weiss
    Performer
    Carlo Lazari, Alberto La Rocca
  6. 6 VI. Men[uet] 02:44
    Track
    6
    Title
    VI. Men[uet]
    Duration
    02:44
    Composer
    Silvius Leopold Weiss
    Performer
    Carlo Lazari, Alberto La Rocca
  7. 7 I. Fantasia 02:52
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Fantasia
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Carlo Lazari, Alberto La Rocca
  8. 8 II. Courante 04:44
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. Courante
    Duration
    04:44
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Carlo Lazari, Alberto La Rocca
  9. 9 III. Entrée 03:30
    Track
    9
    Title
    III. Entrée
    Duration
    03:30
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Carlo Lazari, Alberto La Rocca
  10. 10 IV. Rondeau 03:31
    Track
    10
    Title
    IV. Rondeau
    Duration
    03:31
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Carlo Lazari, Alberto La Rocca
  11. 11 V. Sarabande 05:06
    Track
    11
    Title
    V. Sarabande
    Duration
    05:06
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Carlo Lazari, Alberto La Rocca
  12. 12 VI. Menuet 02:53
    Track
    12
    Title
    VI. Menuet
    Duration
    02:53
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Carlo Lazari, Alberto La Rocca
  13. 13 VII. Allegro 05:30
    Track
    13
    Title
    VII. Allegro
    Duration
    05:30
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Carlo Lazari, Alberto La Rocca