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JS Bach: Suites for Baroque Lute

Hopkinson Smith (13-course baroque lute by Nico van der Waals & Joel van Lennep)

Smith generally takes a leisurely approach to tempo. One is thus able to savour Bach's writing, Smith extrapolations and the wine-dark tone of the instrument...even in the quicker dances he...

JS Bach: Suites for Baroque Lute

Hopkinson Smith (13-course baroque lute by Nico van der Waals & Joel van Lennep)

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This release includes a digital booklet

Stream now lossless, 44.1 kHz, 16 bit
Smith generally takes a leisurely approach to tempo. One is thus able to savour Bach's writing, Smith extrapolations and the wine-dark tone of the instrument...even in the quicker dances he...

About

Bach’s writing in these suites is as varied and inventive as ever. Melodious, boisterous, amazingly delicate, expansively lyrical, then cleverly busy with detail in complicated figuration… I see my intention in arranging for a plucked instrument as a challenge to approach ‘what Bach himself might have done’ in adapting a piece from one medium to another. No one can ever know for sure, of course, but familiarity with his chamber music and keyboard works gives clues. Where the cello writing is melodious with occasional chords (places in the Allemandes and Sarabandes), the plucked instrument can provide a fuller accompaniment.”

Contents and tracklist

I. Prelude
Track length4:15
II. Allemande
Track length4:48
III. Courante
Track length3:56
IV. Sarabande
Track length3:27
V. Bourree I-II
Track length5:30
VI. Gigue
Track length3:28
I. Prelude
Track length5:21
II. Allemande
Track length7:46
III. Courante
Track length4:20
IV. Sarabande
Track length4:18
V. Gavotte I-II
Track length3:58
VI. Gigue
Track length4:45
I. Prelude
Track length5:32
II. Allemande
Track length5:22
III. Courante
Track length2:41
IV. Sarabande
Track length2:49
V. Gavotte I-II
Track length4:45
VI. Gigue
Track length2:39

Awards and reviews

August 2013

Smith generally takes a leisurely approach to tempo. One is thus able to savour Bach's writing, Smith extrapolations and the wine-dark tone of the instrument...even in the quicker dances he offers a melancholic ambivalence that is wholly satisfying.

Hi-Fi Plus March 2013

Hopkinson Smith plays all three suites with great ease

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