Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Suite No. 1 In A Major, BWV 806: I. Prelude
2. Suite No. 1 In A Major, BWV 806: II. Allemande
3. Suite No. 1 In A Major, BWV 806: III. Courante I-II avec deux doubles
4. Suite No. 1 In A Major, BWV 806: IV. Sarabande
5. Suite No. 1 In A Major, BWV 806: V. Bourree I - II
6. Suite No. 1 In A Major, BWV 806: VI. Gigue
7. Suite No. 2 In A Minor, BWV 807: I. Prelude
8. Suite No. 2 In A Minor, BWV 807: II. Allemande
9. Suite No. 2 In A Minor, BWV 807: III. Courante
10. Suite No. 2 In A Minor, BWV 807: IV. Sarabande
11. Suite No. 2 In A Minor, BWV 807: V. Bourree I - II
12. Suite No. 2 In A Minor, BWV 807: VI Gigue
13. Suite No. 3 In G Minor, BWV 808: I. Prelude
14. Suite No. 3 In G Minor, BWV 808: II. Allemande
15. Suite No. 3 In G Minor, BWV 808: III. Courante
16. Suite No. 3 In G Minor, BWV 808: IV. Sarabande
17. Suite No. 3 In G Minor, BWV 808: V. Gavotte I - II (ou la Musette)
18. Suite No. 3 In G Minor, BWV 808: VI. Gigue

Disc 2:

1. Suite No. 4 In F Major, BWV 809: I. Prelude
2. Suite No. 4 In F Major, BWV 809: II. Allemande
3. Suite No. 4 In F Major, BWV 809: III. Courante
4. Suite No. 4 In F Major, BWV 809: IV. Sarabande
5. Suite No. 4 In F Major, BWV 809: V. Menuet I - II
6. Suite No. 4 In F Major, BWV 809: VI. Gigue
7. Suite No. 5 In E Minor, BWV 810: I. Prelude
8. Suite No. 5 In E Minor, BWV 810: II. Allemande
9. Suite No. 5 In E Minor, BWV 810: III. Courante
10. Suite No. 5 In E Minor, BWV 810: IV. Sarabande
11. Suite No. 5 In E Minor, BWV 810: V. Passepied I (en Rondeau) - II
12. Suite No. 5 In E Minor, BWV 810: VI. Gigue
13. Suite No. 6 In D Minor, BWV 811: I. Prelude - Allegro
14. Suite No. 6 In D Minor, BWV 811: II. Allemande
15. Suite No. 6 In D Minor, BWV 811: III. Courante
16. Suite No. 6 In D Minor, BWV 811: IV. Sarabande - Double
17. Suite No. 6 In D Minor, BWV 811: V. Gavotte I - Gavotte II
18. Suite No. 6 In D Minor, BWV 811: VI. Gigue

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #414574 in Music
• Released on: 1997-06-03
• Number of discs: 2

Amazon.com
No one is exactly sure how Bach's English Suites got their name. We do know that it did not originate with the composer. There was a story circulating shortly after Bach's death that the music was commissioned by a wealthy Englishman, but there is no proof. The music is formally identical to the French Suites, in fact, although the pieces in English Suites are larger and more fully developed, and each suite begins with a large overture or prelude. Gustav Leonhardt has recorded this music more than once, but these performances are widely acknowledged to be among his very greatest Bach recordings. They have been transferred to CD in excellent sound, and at budget price, too. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews

Very enjoyable interpretations
Leonhardt is a wonderful interpreter of Bach, and I'm especially fond of his sophisticated use of rhythm. Through subtle changes of tempo and slight pauses, he creates musical shapes which soar, dive, spin, and dance. Not everything he's recorded, however, works equally well in recorded form. He sometimes picks a slow tempo which I think probably worked live, where the beauty of the harpsichord's tone saturated the listener's experience, but in recorded form misses something. However, I'm happy to say that this recording works from beginning to end. He opens Suite #1 with a "big bang" of arpeggios which then coalesces into lyrical phrases, and closes Suite #6 with an incredibly energetic and almost scary reading of the final Gigue which expresses the full potential of Bach's composition. Highly recommended for Leonhardt fans, or anyone else interested in learning more about him.

Extraordinaria interpretacion de Leonhardt
Antes de ser director de orquesta, Gustav Leonhardt se destacó principalmente por su extraordinaria ejecución del clavecín, al cual podía extraer sonidos extraordinarios a pesar de las limitaciones propias del instrumento; por tanto, comprar un disco de obras para clavecín interpretadas por Leonhardt es garantía de una enorme calidad, y un verdadero placer para los oídos. Esta interpretación de las suites inglesas de Bach no es la excepción, sino que se trata de una de las mejores versiones que he escuchado; bajo las manos de Leonhardt el clavecín se vuelve un instrumento realmente extraordinario, impidiendo que el oído se canse del sonido tan peculiar de este instrumento. Sin duda que esta es una compra obligada para cualquier persona interesada en la música de Bach.

Estupenda interpretación al clavecín
Antes de ser director de orquesta, Gustav Leonhardt se destacó principalmente por su extraordinaria ejecución del clavecín, al cual podía extraer sonidos extraordinarios a pesar de las limitaciones propias del instrumento; por tanto, comprar un disco de obras para clavecín interpretadas por Leonhardt es garantía de una enorme calidad, y un verdadero placer para los oídos. Esta interpretación de las suites inglesas de Bach no es la excepción, sino que se trata de una de las mejores versiones que he escuchado; bajo las manos de Leonhardt el clavecín se vuelve un instrumento realmente extraordinario, impidiendo que el oído se canse del sonido tan peculiar de este instrumento. Sin duda que esta es una compra obligada para cualquier persona interesada en la música de Bach.