Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Prélude
2. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Allemande
3. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Courante
4. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Sarabande
5. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Menuett
6. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Gigue
7. Suite for solo cello No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010: Prélude
8. Suite for solo cello No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010: Allemande
9. Suite for solo cello No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010: Courante
10. Suite for solo cello No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010: Sarabande
11. Suite for solo cello No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010: Bourrée
12. Suite for solo cello No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010: Gigue
13. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Prélude
14. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Allemande
15. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Courante
16. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Sarabande
17. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Gavotte
18. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Gigue

Disc 2:

1. Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Prélude
2. Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Allemande
3. Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Courante
4. Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Sarabande
5. Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Menuett
6. Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Gigue
7. Suite for solo cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: Prélude
8. Suite for solo cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: Allemande
9. Suite for solo cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: Courante
10. Suite for solo cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: Sarabande
11. Suite for solo cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: Bourrée
12. Suite for solo cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: Gigue
13. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Prélude
14. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Allemande
15. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Courante
16. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Sarabande
17. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Gavotte
18. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Gigue

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10355 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 1990-10-25
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .39 pounds

Amazon.com
This is Yo-Yo Ma's first recording of Bach's Cello Suites, digitally recorded in 1983 and first issued on LP. He has since made a second recording of the Suites in 1998, taken from the soundtrack of a video series, so it's interesting that the earlier set remains available. If you've been lucky enough to hear Ma play this music in concert, you'll realize that neither set represents his Bach at its best. This rendition is generally quite straightforward, beautifully played and musically sound but sometimes not very emotional. The second set is more expressive but frequently seems self-conscious. Either of these recordings is a worthy representation of Bach's superb music, but neither attains the mature eloquence of Starker's final recording, a level Ma will probably reach himself in his third recording. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews

Straightforward but soulful
I own three popular recordings of the Bach cello suites and can check out two others from a local library. But this recording is by far the one that I listen to most often. One reason has to be the quality of the recording, which I think is generally acknowledged. But more important are Ma's impeccable technique and good musical taste: he plays what Bach wrote, and plays it more clearly and with less unnecessary embellishment than anyone else I have heard. (Call me a purist if you want to, but in my opinion piling on the rubato does not convert the cello suites into a mystical experience.)

When I applaud Ma's technique and say that he plays what Bach wrote, I am not implying that he plays mechanically -- not at all. He plays quite soulfully in my opinion. For example, he brings the Gigue of Suite 1 to life as Casals and Starker, at least, do not. He does that with dynamic variation, and by controlling the tone of his cello, mixing sweet phrases with scratchy ones. I wish that Gigue were included in Amazon's samples, as it would put to rest any charges of mechanical playing.

One customer reviewer said that if the name Ma were taken off the package, all that would remain would be another mediocre rendition of Bach's cello suites. I disagree strongly. I bought the recording on a friend's recommendation, and was not particularly a Ma fan at that time. It is this recording that made me a Ma fan.

Of course, my opinion about this recording is not intended to take away from other great performances. And I haven't heard the later Ma recording yet; maybe it is even better. But as far as I'm concerned, Ma's great technique and straightforward yet soulful approach to the suites should allow this recording to stand proudly among the best of them.

Not the best recordings of this music
In this repertoire Fournier and Casals are both better; Rostropovich is best. To be fair, Ma is a world-class cellist who has produced some fine recordings. But here the young Ma must compete with masters, and these performances, made early in Ma's career, come up short. (A Yo-Yo Ma acolyte may, however, find much to enjoy in the viridity Ma's playing.) If you want another opinion, check Gramaphone Magazine's reviews online. Or buy all of these recordings as I have and compare for yourself.

This CD makes my life richer each time I listen to it.
I have always found Bach to be tolerable, alright as background music for studying because it was not alive enought to distract me.However, When I heard Yo-Yo Ma playing these cello suites, I was truly moved. Each time I listen to it, the music draws me in and I ride on the waves of his cello. The performance feels so personal to me because occasionally, you can hear Yo-Yo Ma's breathing, sometimes sharp inhalation, sometimes drawn out- it creates an image in my mind of what he looks like and is feeling while he plays these pieces, and it takes me there too. This CD has made classical music come alive to me. It is a very personal, sensual CD.