Ailbhe Mcdonagh - Bach: Complete Solo Cello Suites (2024) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prélude
02. Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: II. Allemande
03. Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: III. Courante
04. Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: IV. Sarabande
05. Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: V. Menuett I - Menuett II
06. Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: VI. Gigue
07. Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008: I. Prélude
08. Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008: II. Allemande
09. Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008: III. Courante
10. Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008: IV. Sarabande
11. Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008: V. Menuett - I Menuett II
12. Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008: VI. Gigue
13. Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009: I. Prélude
14. Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009: II. Allemande
15. Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009: III. Courante
16. Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009: IV. Sarabande
17. Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009: V. Bourrée I - Bourrée II
18. Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009: VI. Gigue
19. Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010: I. Prélude
20. Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010: II. Allemande
21. Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010: III. Courante
22. Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010: IV. Sarabande
23. Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010: V. Bourrée I - Bourrée II
24. Cello Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 1010: VI. Gigue
25. Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011: I. Prélude
26. Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011: II. Allemande
27. Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011: III. Courante
28. Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011: IV. Sarabande
29. Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011: V. Gavotte I - Gavotte II
30. Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011: VI. Gigue
31. Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: I. Prélude
32. Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: II. Allemande
33. Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: III. Courante
34. Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: IV. Sarabande
35. Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: V. Gavotte I - Gavotte II
36. Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: VI. Gigue

On February 2, 2024 the STEINWAY & SONS label is pleased to release Ailbhe's McDonagh's recording of Bach's Complete Solo Cello Suites (STNS 30232). As Ailbhe writes in her program notes, "Bach’s Cello Suites are some of the most beautiful, challenging, and complex works composed for the instrument. Bach’s ability to create counterpoint on a solo instrument is astounding. He really makes the cello sound like an orchestra rather than just one instrument. Composers the world over (myself included) have been inspired by him to compose solo suites for the cello. The variety of characters, moods, rhythmic interest and phrase structure heard in these suites keep the performer engaged and eager to perform these works over and over again.

From my earliest days as a cellist, I had always hoped to make a recording of the Bach Cello Suites. To date, there are no recordings of these pieces by an Irish cellist, and I think that it is important to have a record of how an Irish cellist would perform these iconic works. This recording, for me, needed to have the raw, true sound of how I perform the Bach Cello Suites in concert. You can hear it here on a modern instrument (Postacchini cello) with a modern bow (Noel Burke) in the modern tuning that is standard in the Republic of Ireland (442).

In this recording, my aim was to have a very distinct musical character for each movement. It was important that each dance movement should feel different from the previous one to ensure that the vibrancy of Bach’s music was always alive. I enjoyed having an almost ‘Irish Jig’ feel (from Irish traditional music) in all of the Gigue movements.”

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