Pablo Casals: Bach Gamba Sonata No. 1 - 1st & 2nd mvts.

Johann Sebastian Bach:
Gamba Sonata No. 1 in G major, BWV 1027;
I. Adagio -
II. Allegro non tanto [ 4:10 ] -

Pau Casals, cello;
Paul Baumgartner, piano
(1950)

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Compared to his legendary recordings of the Bach Suites, Casals' recording of the three Bach Sonatas, originally written for viola da gamba and harpsichord, has always been a lot less popular.
Recorded during the 1950 Bach Festival in Prades, which marked the beginning of the annual Casals Festivals, the sound of these early tape recordings is not particularly good, in addition to suffering from some pitch fluctuation.
But I feel that these performances are an important document of Casals' unique style of playing, especially in Bach (whether one thinks it appropriate or not...)
(Btw, these are actual photos from the 1950 festival!)
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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Bach
• Gamba
• Sonata
• Casals
• Baumgartner

[mandrileante]

Pure soul....years looking for this jewel! Thanks a lot!!

[RebMeAH]

Have been listening to this performance since 1962 and still profoundly moved.

[dimakorg108]

Bravo, Maestro!!!



[paufeu]

I love it! What phrasing!

[AgapitoPratesPaulo]

Ouvi muitas vezes pablo casals em disco do festival de prades; repito agora muito tarde, mas não sem tempo essa alegria profunda de muitos anos atrás. 

[MarceloBruno2706]

I have one exemplar of this and all the other volumes from the Bach Prades Festival in 1950: a pure delight: I would like to tell that I got all original ten volumes, i.e., mono recording, but a very well done mono one.

[Katicooooo]

Casals, was one of " The Son's of God" that took up the cello.. Absolutely, amazing!!..