J.S.Bach: Complete Cello Suites (Transcribed For Violin)

Its certainly permissible to argue that Bach wrote his Suites for unaccompanied cello, BWV 1007-1012, for a specific instrument, and that lacking a specific impetus to play them another way, they should be left alone. However, violinist Johnny Gandelsman offers several good reasons to consider his performances of these works in what are presumably his own transcriptions of the works for the violin. First of all, he is not the first musician to have done this, and he was directly inspired by the major historical-performance cellist Anner Bylsma, in whose house he found a transcription made for violin. Second, Bach was, of course, an inveterate transcriber, although arguably, he was less inclined to recycle his music when compositions in a virtuoso tradition, like these, were involved. Finally, the violin allows Gandelsman to bring a distinctive interpretation to the cello suites. In addition to Bylsma, he credits Irish folk fiddler Martin Hayes as an inspiration; Hayes has worked with musicians from other traditions, including classical as well as the realm of world music. Gandelsman offers a light tone, emphasizing the dance rhythms in the suites and playing with a slightly improvisatory feel. His transcriptions lighten the texture in a few places to make this possible. Added bonuses are the performance of the Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012, on a five-string violin (this is the first time this has been done), and Gandelsmans own production, which has a warm sound that might be especially attractive on the available LP set. This is a fresh, confident performance of the Cello Suites.