Bach Cello Suites on the Horn Vol. 1 by Daniel Katzen (CD, 2012) for sale online

About this product

Product Identifiers

Record LabelCdb, CD Baby

UPC0822371141423

eBay Product ID (ePID)23046063480

Product Key Features

FormatCD

Release Year2012

GenreClassical

ArtistDaniel Katzen

Release TitleBach Cello Suites on the Horn Vol. 1

Dimensions

Item Height0.40 in

Item Weight0.25 lb

Item Length5.60 in

Item Width4.90 in

Additional Product Features

Number of Tracks12

Number of Discs1

TracksSuite No. 2 in D minor BWV 1008: I. Prelude, Suite No. 2 in D minor BWV 1008: II. Allemande, Suite No. 2 in D minor BWV 1008: III. Courante, Suite No. 2 in D minor BWV 1008: IV. Sarabande, Suite No. 2 in D minor BWV 1008: V. Minuets, Suite No. 2 in D minor BWV 1008: VI. Gigue, Suite No. 6 in a Major BWV 1012: I. Prelude, Suite No. 6 in a Major BWV 1012: II. Courante, Suite No. 6 in a Major BWV 1012: III. Sarabande, Suite No. 6 in a Major BWV 1012: IV. Gavottes, Suite No. 6 in a Major BWV 1012: V. Gigue, Suite No. 6 in a Major BWV 1012: Sarabande for 4 Horns

NotesEver since the mid-20th century, when Wendell Hoss transcribed for horn the legendary Suites for 'Cello Solo by J.S. Bach (BWV 1007-1012), horn players the world over have been drawn to the allure of making them "our own". Let's face it: we missed a large collection of the great composers' talents by not having modernized our instruments with the addition of valves until well after many of them had left us, valveless horns in hand. Since we were not reliably chromatic until Tchaikovsky, one could not undertake challenges as difficult and unwieldy as those presented in the playing of Bach's great oeuvre for the 'cello (not the least of which would have been dealing with the ire of every 'cellist who found out about our poaching!). The biggest challenges in working on the Bach 'Cello Suites can be found in the fact that we are a melodic, one-note-at-a-time instrument. The chords Bach chose, for emphasis or added colors, are among the most interesting facets of these pieces, and we do a great disservice to them if we play with only a melodic, horn-based viewpoint. Much can be learned from grappling with where to put breaths, and which double- and triple-stop notes to play, by analyzing the lines and harmonies implied in the original key's 'cello parts. Over the 40+ years that I've been playing the Suites, I never cease to be awed by their difficulty and mystery, and the out-of-body experience of being part of the messenger of the music and not it's creator. Poring over the myriad of notes and the plethora of interpretation options leads one to delve deeper into the music, in an almost architect-like fashion, searching for structural directions and their obvious conclusions. Some good resources for information on the Suites can be found at the Internet Cello Society, such as 'Interpretational Angst and the Bach Cello Suites' by Tim Janof; former BSO bass trombonist and current ASU professor Douglas Yeo's website; and the fascinating book 'The Cello Suites: J. S. Bach, Pablo Casals, and the Search for a Baroque Masterpiece' by Eric Siblin (Grove Press, 2009), which endeavors to tie together the personal, musical, historical, political and philosophical ramifications of the Suites in Pablo Casals' (and J.S.Bach's) life. The history of the Suites is definitely ongoing and organic, even into their fourth century. I wish for all who listen to this version of the Bach Suites musical enlightenment and not bravado, beauty instead of strength and joy over arduousness. Daniel Katzen Associate Professor of Horn, University of Arizona Former Second Horn, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and former faculty member at New England Conservatory, Boston University, Tanglewood Music Center, California Institute of the Arts and UC Irvine.