A busy schedule as music director of the Bach Collegium Japan and sought-after guest conductor doesn't stop Masaaki Suzuki from returning to his first loves, the organ and the harpsichord. With the present release he adds yet another chapter to his series of Bach's works for solo harpsichord. After acclaimed recordings of the Well-tempered Clavier, the Goldberg variations, the French Suites and other works the turn has come to the English Suites. Composed while Bach was in his thirties it precedes other sets such as the French Suites and the Toccatas, and in his liner notes, Bach scholar Yo Tomita draws attention to 'the stylistic traits of a youthful and ambitious composer wanting to make his mark through the use of counterpoint and virtuosity'. Despite it's title, the collection has very little to do with England, at least musically: the six suites are instead rooted in the French tradition, and show certain striking similarities to the composer Charles Dieupart's Six Suittes pour le Clavessin from 1701. (Bach made a copy of Dieupart's set sometime between 1709 and 1716.) It was only in the 19th century that the suites became known as the 'English', based on a never substantiated claim that the set was commissioned by an English nobleman.

Tracklist:

English Suite No. 1 In A Major, Bwv 806: I. Prélude
English Suite No. 1 In A Major, Bwv 806: II. Allemande
English Suite No. 1 In A Major, Bwv 806: III. Courante I
English Suite No. 1 In A Major, Bwv 806: IV. Courante II - V. Double I - VI. Double II
English Suite No. 1 In A Major, Bwv 806: VII. Sarabande
English Suite No. 1 In A Major, Bwv 806: VIII. Bourrée I & II
English Suite No. 1 In A Major, Bwv 806: IX. Gigue
English Suite No. 2 In A Minor, Bwv 807: I. Prélude
English Suite No. 2 In A Minor, Bwv 807: II. Allemande
English Suite No. 2 In A Minor, Bwv 807: III. Courante
English Suite No. 2 In A Minor, Bwv 807: IV. Sarabande
English Suite No. 2 In A Minor, Bwv 807: V. Bourrée I - VI. Bourrée II
English Suite No. 2 In A Minor, Bwv 807: VII. Gigue
English Suite No. 3 In G Minor, Bwv 808: I. Prélude
English Suite No. 3 In G Minor, Bwv 808: II. Allemande
English Suite No. 3 In G Minor, Bwv 808: III. Courante
English Suite No. 3 In G Minor, Bwv 808: IV. Sarabande
English Suite No. 3 In G Minor, Bwv 808: V. Gavotte I - VI. Gavotte II
English Suite No. 3 In G Minor, Bwv 808: VII. Gigue
English Suite No. 4 In F Major, Bwv 809: I. Prélude
English Suite No. 4 In F Major, Bwv 809: II. Allemande
English Suite No. 4 In F Major, Bwv 809: III. Courante
English Suite No. 4 In F Major, Bwv 809: IV. Sarabande
English Suite No. 4 In F Major, Bwv 809: V. Menuet I - VI. Menuet II
English Suite No. 4 In F Major, Bwv 809: VII. Gigue
English Suite No. 5 In E Minor, Bwv 810: I. Prélude
English Suite No. 5 In E Minor, Bwv 810: II. Allemande
English Suite No. 5 In E Minor, Bwv 810: III. Courante
English Suite No. 5 In E Minor, Bwv 810: IV. Sarabande
English Suite No. 5 In E Minor, Bwv 810: V. Passepied I - VI. Passepied II
English Suite No. 5 In E Minor, Bwv 810: VII. Gigue
English Suite No. 6 In D Minor, Bwv 811: I. Prélude
English Suite No. 6 In D Minor, Bwv 811: II. Allemande
English Suite No. 6 In D Minor, Bwv 811: III. Courante
English Suite No. 6 In D Minor, Bwv 811: IV. Sarabande - V. Double
English Suite No. 6 In D Minor, Bwv 811: VI. Gavotte I - VII. Gavotte II
English Suite No. 6 In D Minor, Bwv 811: VIII. Gigue

UPC: 7318599922812
Label: Bis
Release Date: 5.3.19
Format: CD

J Bach S / Suzuki - English Suites (2 CD)