Vesa Lassila - Water Through Ice (2026) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

CD1
01. Suite in G Minor, BWV 995 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): I. Prelude
02. Suite in G Minor, BWV 995 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): II. Allemande
03. Suite in G Minor, BWV 995 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): III. Courante
04. Suite in G Minor, BWV 995 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): IV. Sarabande
05. Suite in G Minor, BWV 995 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): V. Gavotte I - VI. Gavotte II
06. Suite in G Minor, BWV 995 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): VII. Gigue
07. Suite in E Minor, BWV 996 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): I. Praeludio. Presto
08. Suite in E Minor, BWV 996 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): II. Allemande
09. Suite in E Minor, BWV 996 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): III. Courante
10. Suite in E Minor, BWV 996 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): IV. Sarabande
11. Suite in E Minor, BWV 996 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): V. Bourrée
12. Suite in E Minor, BWV 996 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): VI. Gigue
13. Suite in C Minor, BWV 997 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): I. Prelude
14. Suite in C Minor, BWV 997 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): II. Fuga
15. Suite in C Minor, BWV 997 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): III. Sarabande
16. Suite in C Minor, BWV 997 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): IV. Gigue
17. Suite in C Minor, BWV 997 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): V. Double

CD2
01. Suite in E Major, BWV 1006a (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): I. Preludio
02. Suite in E Major, BWV 1006a (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): II. Loure
03. Suite in E Major, BWV 1006a (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): III. Gavotte en rondeau
04. Suite in E Major, BWV 1006a (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): IV. Menuet I - V. Menuet II
05. Suite in E Major, BWV 1006a (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): VI. Bourrée
06. Suite in E Major, BWV 1006a (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): VII. Gigue
07. Prelude, Fugue & Allegro in E-Flat Major, BWV 998 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): I. Prelude
08. Prelude, Fugue & Allegro in E-Flat Major, BWV 998 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): II. Fugue
09. Prelude, Fugue & Allegro in E-Flat Major, BWV 998 (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila): III. Allegro
10. Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: V. Chaconne (Arr. for Guitar by Vesa Lassila)

Diversions is delighted to present the January 2026 release of Bach Lute Suites for Alto Guitar, from the Finnish guitarist Vesa Lassila.

Even today, it’s unclear whether Bach’s Lute Suites were written for a lute-harpsichord, or even a harp. While the works have been recorded many times on the modern guitar, in Water Through Ice, guitarist Vesa Lassila presents his own arrangements for the the alto guitar. Lassila states, “With a little imagination, one can easily view the alto guitar as the modern instrument version of the baroque alto lute.” The alto guitar on the recording features an instrument created by Finnish luthier Keijo Krelin in 2009, and provides a rich and powerful bass register alongside a light descant and clear voice, bridging the gap between modern sounds and historic authenticity. Water through Ice also includes arrangements for alto guitar of two Suites Bach originally composed for solo violin, but which were later transcribed or arranged by him for lute-harpsichord.

“As a musician, the possibilities of the alto guitar opened a wider range of bass lines, meaning that unlike when performing Bach on the modern guitar,” says Lassila, “one doesn’t have to reduce the rich voice in the lower register but can instead employ the full two octaves as were written for the lute. The shorter scale of the fretboard allows for more open solutions in the fingerings and articulations in order to better bring out Bach’s glorious counterpoint.”

These beautiful, intricate and technically demanding works continue to inspire musicians today because of their exceptional quality. Lassila traces Bach’s well-planned musical narrations throughout the Suites to bring forth a poetic, musical journey, that “moves as water runs through ice, with musical diversions adding to the harmonious journey.”

Vesa Lassila is a Finnish guitarist who grew up in the city of Ylivieska. He began to play guitar at the age of twelve and little later began to take lessons with Jorma Styng. Lassila studied classical guitar in Helsinki and Oulu Conservatory with guidance from Timo Korhonen, Ismo Eskelinen and Ilkka Virta, also with Jan Olof Ericsson in Piteå Music Högskola in Sweden. He has taken part in masterclasses held by Oscar Ghiglia, Jukka Savijoki and Roberto Aussel. Lassila works as a guitar professor at the Institute of Music in Ylivieska, in northern Finland.

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