J.S.Bach: Sonatas for Viola da Gamba

J.S. Bachs Three Sonatas for viola da gamba have been almost completely adopted into the cello repertoire. This, despite the fact that the sonatas were originally composed for a vastly different, six-string, fretted instrument with a substantially higher range (without shifting into higher positions) than the modern cello. Still, the cello is the closest modern instrument available to imitate the tone of the gamba. Cellist Audrey Cienniwa has chosen a slightly different route than many other cellists who have recorded the sonatas; she performs on a violoncello piccolo, a five string instrument with which Bach was familiar and likely composed the Sixth Solo Suite for. The addition of the fifth, higher string reduces the amount of shifting into upper positions that is needed. Despite the innovative instrumentation idea, however, Cienniwas playing is rather unremarkable. Rapid passages, such as the final movements of both the Second and Third sonatas, are not clean despite the reduction in shifting. Intonation is far from perfect, and Cienniwa has far too many slides into notes to make this a convincing Baroque recording. Slow movements tend to be rather pedantic, lacking in forward momentum and direction. Overall sound quality and balance between cello and harpsichord is pleasing, but is certainly not enough to make up for the technical and musical shortcomings.