7 Movements: J.S. Bach, Sainte-Colombe - father & son

by Johanna Rose

Overview

In general, Bach might fairly be called a conservative composer, but rarely did he look backward as much as in his solo suites and sonatas for cello or violin. These works hark back to court traditions of inward chamber music that were on the decline by Bach's time. Here, viola da gamba player Johanna Rose draws a link specifically between Bach and the elusive 17th century gambist-composers known as Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe, pere ("father," most of the works) et fils ("son"). She not only assembles a new Sainte-Colombe gamba suite, consisting of pieces by both father and son but also adds Sainte-Colombe pieces onto either end of transcriptions of Bach suites for viola da gamba to form a seven-movement suite (this is the sense of the title, along with the fact that Rose plays the Saint-Colombe seven-string gamba). This idea might be questioned; there is no evidence that Bach knew the music of either Saint-Colombe, and although the French dance movements are common to all the composers, the flavor is different, but one doesn't have to buy Rose's concept to enjoy her playing, which is formidable. Bach sounds different on the viola da gamba, more delicate, less percussive, and she catches this difference elegantly. The transcriptions of the Bach suites are her own, and she renders the fantasy-like element in the music of the Sainte-Colombes well; sample the final Chaconne for an idea. A bonus is the Rubicon label's studio sound, an exemplary model for how to record the gamba. Recordings of the music of the Saint-Colombes, despite Jordi Savall's pioneering efforts, remain rare enough that this recording would be recommended in any case, but it has many attractions beyond that. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	01/27/2023
Label:	Rubicon Classics
UPC:	5065002228246
Rank:	114883

Tracks

1. Pr¿¿lude in D minor
2. Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor BWV 1011 (transcr. in D minor)~Pr¿¿lude
3. Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor BWV 1011 (transcr. in D minor)~Allemande
4. Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor BWV 1011 (transcr. in D minor)~Courante
5. Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor BWV 1011 (transcr. in D minor)~Sarabande
6. Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor BWV 1011 (transcr. in D minor)~Gavotte I & II
7. Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor BWV 1011 (transcr. in D minor)~Gigue
8. Bass Viol Suite No. 2 in E minor~Pr¿¿lude
9. Allemande in G
10. Courante in G
11. Sarabande in G
12. Gigue in G
13. Bass Viol Suite No. 1 in G minor~Fantaisie en Rondeau
14. Cello Suite No. 6 in D BWV 1012~Pr¿¿lude
15. Cello Suite No. 6 in D BWV 1012~Allemande
16. Cello Suite No. 6 in D BWV 1012~Courante
17. Cello Suite No. 6 in D BWV 1012~Sarabande
18. Cello Suite No. 6 in D BWV 1012~Gavotte I & II
19. Cello Suite No. 6 in D BWV 1012~Gigue
20. Chaconne in D minor

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Johanna Rose   Primary Artist,Viola da Gamba

Technical Credits

Sainte-Colombe le Fils   Composer
Laura Leon   Photography
Johann Sebastian Bach   Composer
Annegret Rehse   Liner Notes
Matthew Cosgrove   Executive Producer
Jean de Sainte-Colombe   Composer
Robert Sargant   Liner Note Translation
Jordi Gil   Mixing,Mastering,Producer,Engineer
Johanna Rose   Arranger
Robert Louis Baille   Instrument Design
Paul Mitchell   Cover Design