Bach’s English Suites are entitled in a way that is as strange as it is hard to explain, at least at first glance. Contrary to what one might assume, these works are more closely related to French suites than to English music. The title is taken from the inscription “Fait pour les Anglois”, found on a manuscript owned by Bach’s youngest son. In addition to an extensive prelude and four traditional dances – Allemande, Courante, Sarabande and Gigue – each suite also contains “gallantries”, lighter dances that were fashionable at the time. In these dance movements, grace and melody play together with a compositional artistry that elevates them far beyond incidental music for courtly dances. After the Partitas published by Passacaille in 2021 (PAS 1105), Lorenzo Ghielmi, one of the most renowned Bach interpreters of our day, now releases the English Suites, recorded on a harpsichord built by Detmar Hungelbert after an instrument by Michael Mietke (ca. 1710 in Berlin).The Italian keyboardist Lorenzo Ghielmi continues his journey into the catalogue of Bach’s harpsichord solo works. In 2021, Passacaille released the Partitas (Clavierübung I, BWV 825-830), and now these are the English Suites (BWV 806-811), another of the three important cycles written by Bach. They are quite often recorded, and this new and impressive recording highlights the rigorous vision of one of the greatest Italian harpsichordists, Lorenzo Ghielmi, who particularly focuses on the densely polyphonic Bach’s writing as his richly chromatic harmonies.
Bach’s English Suites are entitled in a way that is as strange as it is hard to explain, at least at first glance. Contrary to what one might assume, these works are more closely related to French suites than to English music. The title is taken from the inscription “Fait pour les Anglois”, found on a manuscript owned by Bach’s youngest son. In addition to an extensive prelude and four traditional dances – Allemande, Courante, Sarabande and Gigue – each suite also contains “gallantries”, lighter dances that were fashionable at the time. In these dance movements, grace and melody play together with a compositional artistry that elevates them far beyond incidental music for courtly dances.
Lorenzo Ghielmi recorded the English Suites on a beautiful harpsichord built by Detmar Hungelbert after an instrument by Michael Mietke (ca. 1710 in Berlin).
Tracklist:
1. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806: I. Prelude (02:25)
2. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806: II. Allemande (06:02)
3. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806: III. Courante I (01:55)
4. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806: IV. Courante II avec 2 Doubles – Double I – Double II (04:36)
5. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806: V. Sarabande (03:11)
6. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806: VI. Bourées I & II (04:55)
7. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806: VII. Gigue (03:10)
8. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: I. Prelude (05:13)
9. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: II. Allemande (04:31)
10. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: III. Courante (02:05)
11. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: IV. Sarabande – Les agréments de la même Sarabande (04:06)
12. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: V. Bourrées I & II (04:48)
13. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: VI. Gigue (03:57)
14. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808: I. Prelude (03:38)
15. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808: II. Allemande (04:28)
16. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808: III. Courante (02:49)
17. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808: IV. Sarabande – Les agréments de la même Sarabande (03:52)
18. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808: V. Gavotte I – Gavotte II ou Musette (03:28)
19. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808: VI. Gigue (03:09)
20. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 4 in F Major, BWV 809: I. Prelude (05:16)
21. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 4 in F Major, BWV 809: III. Allemande (04:02)
22. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 4 in F Major, BWV 809: III. Courante (01:53)
23. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 4 in F Major, BWV 809: IV. Sarabande (03:38)
24. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 4 in F Major, BWV 809: V. Menuets I & II (03:30)
25. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 4 in F Major, BWV 809: VI. Gigue (03:46)
26. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 5 in E Minor, BWV 810: I. Prelude (05:42)
27. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 5 in E Minor, BWV 810: II. Allemande (04:23)
28. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 5 in E Minor, BWV 810: III. Courante (02:30)
29. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 5 in E Minor, BWV 810: IV. Sarabande (03:41)
30. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 5 in E Minor, BWV 810: V. Passepied I en Rondeau – Passepied II (03:56)
31. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 5 in E Minor, BWV 810: VI. Gigue (03:29)
32. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 811: I. Prelude (08:37)
33. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 811: II. Allemande (04:36)
34. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 811: III. Courante (02:45)
35. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 811: IV. Sarabande (03:07)
36. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 811: V. Double (03:07)
37. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 811: VI. Gavotte I – Gavotte II (Musette) (04:15)
38. Lorenzo Ghielmi – English Suite No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 811: VII. Gigue (03:37)
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