Klaus Feldmann, Rainer Feldmann - J.S. Bach: In Köthen (1992)

Tracklist

01. French Suite No. 3 in B Minor, BWV 814 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 1, Allemande
02. French Suite No. 3 in B Minor, BWV 814 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 2, Courante
03. French Suite No. 3 in B Minor, BWV 814 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 3, Sarabande
04. French Suite No. 3 in B Minor, BWV 814 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 4, Gavotte
05. French Suite No. 3 in B Minor, BWV 814 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 5, Menuet und Trio
06. French Suite No. 3 in B Minor, BWV 814 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 6, Gigue
07. French Suite No. 6 in E Major, BWV 817 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 1, Allemande
08. French Suite No. 6 in E Major, BWV 817 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 2, Courante
09. French Suite No. 6 in E Major, BWV 817 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 3, Sarabande
10. French Suite No. 6 in E Major, BWV 817 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 4, Gavotte
11. French Suite No. 6 in E Major, BWV 817 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 5, Polonaise
12. French Suite No. 6 in E Major, BWV 817 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 6, Menuet
13. French Suite No. 6 in E Major, BWV 817 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 7, Bourrée
14. French Suite No. 6 in E Major, BWV 817 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 8, Gigue
15. English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 1, Prelude
16. English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 2, Allemande
17. English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 3, Courante
18. English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 4, Sarabande
19. English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 5, Bourrée I und II
20. English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807 (Arr. for Guitar by Rainer Feldmann) No. 6, Gigue



This is a 1991 performance by the German guitar duo Klaus and Rainer Feldmann, reissued in 2012 by Membran Music's New Classical Adventures series in Germany. You can see why they chose it: the sort of recording it exemplifies, namely one in which the guitar is deployed straightforwardly playing complete works in serious mainstream repertory, is still not common. The Feldmann brothers argue that guitars and lutes were present in the musical milieu connected with Anna Magdalena Bach, the milieu that produced the so-called French Suites for harpsichord presented here, and that while a duo-guitar performance of the suites is not exactly based on the historical record, it's certainly conceivable. The presentation in the CD booklet is aimed at general audiences but filled with intriguing specific detail, such as a stone tablet at Köthen Castle reading, In the years 1717-1723 J.S. Bach created everlasting works of art at this place. Be proud of him, country, but be worthy of him. The performances are clean, crisp, and nicely unlabored; the Feldmanns connect with the didactic aspects of these suites. Glenn Gould it's not, but the music is straightforward and satisfying. If the 1991 sound is a concern, don't let it be; guitar recordists today could learn a lot from the clear, unfussy recordings here. Recommended for guitar lovers.

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