Bach’s Cello Suites: A Sublime New Recording
If you are fan of Bach’s cello suites, which I believe are truly some of the most sublime music Bach wrote, and that’s saying a lot, then you are going to love this recent recording of them by Zuill Bailey, a performer I featured in a blog post recently, showing him playing some of the cello suites. I highly recommend this recording. You can get it from Amazon for only $13. The instrument Bailey uses for this recording is truly a one-of-a-kind cello that fully captures all the voice-like quality of Bach’s compositions. Before Bach came along with his cello suites, the cello was kind of a, ok, are you ready?, kind of a second-fiddle instrument. But never again after Bach gave us these cello suites. People much more in the know than I am about such things tell me that for a cello player, a complete recording of Bach’s works for solo cello is the “Mt. Everest” of cello playing. Bailey has clearly planted his flag on the top of the mountain with this recording.
Hi Paul: I could not agree with you more. Zuill really outdid himself and proved that he is, as you say, at the top of the mountain.
Mike
Pr. McCain, that is a high accolade! I assume you have heard Casals’ recordings. I look forward to comparing Bailey to Casals.
There is a terrific book which just came out on the cellos suites, as well, found here: http://www.amazon.com/Cello-Suites-Casals-Baroque-Masterpiece/dp/0802119298
Your local library should have a copy–it is a good read.
@Matthew Carver (Matthaeus Glyptes)
@Matt: I appreciate Casals’ work, but…I prefer this recording for at least two reasons: they suites are performed with vigor, and do not come off as dirges. I think Casals’ interpretation is a bit too much on the side of “mourning” instead of “joy.” Also, the instrument that Zuill uses is phenomenal and beats Casals’ instrument, hands down.
You should also check out the recording by Paolo Beschi, playing on a baroque cello, on the “Winter and Winter” label. One of my favorites.
Yikes, and I thought Zuill was playing them a tad fast! A bit too much tempo for my tastes, and I don’t think the recording is as good, nor the instrument as beautiful sounding as the one Zuill is using.
Music performed on “original instruments” with period performances are admittedly an acquired taste. They are big in Europe–with groups such as Europa Galante, Musica Antiqua of Kologne. Beschi is an early music performer.
Richard, you must check out the Zuill recording. I’m not a fanatic for original instruments, but this instrument he is using is truly a one-of-a-kind cello which has sound unlike any other I’ve ever heard. It’s simply beautiful. And, it could not get more “authentic” in terms of matching Bach’s time.
It IS beautiful–at least the excerpts. Sigh. Another Amazon purchase. This makes four versions I have–but it sounds rich (I mean the tone) .
Thanks for this. I’ve been listening to this one side by side with Yo Yo Ma. The great thing is even though they are playing the same movements, they each paint a different picture as I listen to it (when I hear music, it creates a visual image in my mind… kind of hard to explain… but it has made memorizing music easy). While Yo Yo Ma is a bit more playful, Zuill brings a passion to the Cello Suites that is such a fresh take on this… and I really do think that the instrument has quite a bit to do with it.