Richard Egarr - Bach: The English Suites (2012) [Hi-Res]

20 Apr, 16:04
change text size:

Artist: Richard Egarr
Title: Bach: The English Suites (BWV 806-811)
Year Of Release: 2012
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Genre: Classical
Quality: FLAC (tracks) [88.2/24] / (image + .cue, log, scans)
Total Time: 2:21:18
Total Size: 2.79 GB / 899 MB
WebSite: Album Preview

Tracklist:

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

The English Suites Nos. 1-6, BWV 806-811

DISC 1

Suite No.1 in A Major, BWV 806
01. I. Prélude (2:30)
02. II. Allemande (5:19)
03. III. Courante I (1:43)
04. IV. Courante II avec deux Doubles; Double I; Double II (4:16)
05. V. Sarabande (3:40)
06. VI. Bourrée I (2:07)
07. VII. Bourrée II (2:45)
08. VIII. Gigue (3:01)

Suite No.2 in A Minor, BWV 807
09. I. Prélude (5:10)
10. II. Allemande (3:54)
11. III. Courante (2:02)
12. IV. Sarabande; Les agréments de la même Sarabande (4:17)
13. V. Bourrée I alternativement (2:27)
14. VI. Bourrée II (2:27)
15. VII. Gigue (2:49)

Suite No.3 in G Minor, BWV 808
16. I. Prélude (3:32)
17. II. Allemande (3:44)
18. III. Courante (2:44)
19. IV. Sarabande; Les agréments de la même Sarabande (4:31)
20. V. Gavotte I alternativement (1:34)
21. VI. Gavotte II ou la Musette (1:39)
22. VII. Gigue (3:25)

DISC 2

Suite No.4 in F Major, BWV 809
01. I. Prélude (4:46)
02. II. Allemande (3:52)
03. III. Courante (1:52)
04. IV. Sarabande (2:52)
05. V. Menuet I (1:27)
06. VI. Menuet II (2:25)
07. VII. Gigue (4:05)

Suite No.5 in E Minor, BWV 810
08. I. Prélude (5:27)
09. II. Allemande (4:23)
10. III. Courante (2:28)
11. IV. Sarabande (2:57)
12. V. Passepied I en Rondeau (1:29)
13. VI. Passepied II (1:27)
14. VII. Gigue (3:36)

Suite No.6 in D Minor, BWV 811
15. I. Prélude (9:16)
16. II. Allemande (4:14)
17. III. Courante (2:35)
18. IV. Sarabande; Double (4:20)
19. V. Gavotte I (1:47)
20. VI. Gavotte II (2:21)
21. VII. Gigue (4:03)

Despite having a reputation for didacticism, Richard Egarr is an engaging performer of Baroque music whose lucid playing and thoughtful interpretations are always worth hearing. His 2013 Harmonia Mundi double-CD of J.S. Bach’s six English Suites, played on harpsichord, offers insights into the conventions of the period’s keyboard styles, though whether these charming pieces can be defined as English or not remains unresolved. Egarr’s avowed fondness for the English Suites and other early Bach compositions stems from the physical pleasure they bring, as well as their elements of fantasy and invention. In these sets of preludes and dances, Bach’s lively imagination is on full display in the variety of the harpsichord’s textures, tone colors, and ornamentation. Egarr’s notes go into considerable detail about the development of Bach’s ideas and the factors that unify the suites as a cycle. However, the listener may choose to discover such elements in the flow of the music, which is perhaps even more enjoyable than the analysis would be to a theoretician, because Egarr’s polished technique and unfailing elegance make this a delightful album. -- Blair Sanderson

Related Releases:

Hi-Res

IsraCloud

CD-Rip

IsraCloud