Josephine van Lier records Bach Suites - the making of...

An intimate view of the recording process.
This unique recording of all six of J.S. Bach's Cello Suites sets side by side the different sounds of historic and new instruments and compares their strengths and weaknesses.

Bachs Cello Suites have been recorded on modern instruments, baroque cellos and even on guitar, viola da gamba, saxophone and marimba, but never before has one musician assembled a recording that showcases these suites using four very different cellos. 

Five of the six suites in this recording are played on three cellos: 

- a contemporary but antique cello built ca. 1870 in Mirecourt, France, for the 1st and 4th suites
- a baroque cello, much like a cello that would have been used in Bachs time for the 2nd and 5th suites
- a hyper-modern carbon fibre cello for the 3rd suite

The 6th suite is played on a custom built 5 string violoncello piccolo, another baroque instrument, arguably much like it might have been played in Bachs time.

To give the listener the opportunity to compare the instruments, the 5th suite is played three times: on the Baroque cello within the sequence of suites, and again on the Mirecourt cello and on the Carbon Fibre cello on the fourth CD.

CD 1:
Suite 1: Contemporary cello
Suite 2: Baroque cello

CD 2:
Suite 3: Carbon Fibre cello
Suite 4: Contemporary cello

CD 3
Suite 5: Baroque cello
Suite 6: Violoncello Piccolo

CD 4 (ADDITIONAL)
Suite 5: Contemporary cello
Suite 5: Carbon Fibre cello

The recording took place at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Spruce Grove, AB, Canada in July 2009.

Go to www.josephinevanlier.com for detailed information.
- purchasing information,
- sound analysis,
- biography,
- concert schedule
- bookings
- press kits
- etc

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[intormentis]

The piece that JVL starts to play at 0:33 - that's a french baroque piece isn't it? Something by Marin Marais maybe - can someone identify the name of the piece please? It's recognizable but I just can't think of the name.

[josephinevanlier]

@intormentis It is the Sarabande of the 6th suite.

[intormentis]

Thank you very much! Now I have to get out my music and look a it.

I like everything you do.

[nationalparksign]

these suites are so much fun to play.