Track Listing

Disc 1:

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

Disc 2:

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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #686 in Music
• Released on: 2006-06-06
• Number of discs: 2

Customer Reviews

Re-release?
From the cover, this certainly looks like a re-release of the 1990 album. Ma also recorded the 6 suites again in 1998, aka the White album. I have both, and both are excellent as you might expect. I prefer the white album as the pieces are played in a more livley and dance-like manner.

Play some Bach
You've probably heard the prelude to Bach's Cello Suite #1 in G, whether you know the title or not; it's been in featured in many movies and advertisements. Suite #1 is absolutely gorgeous and full of emotion, and absolutely worth your time to listen to - and Yo-Yo Ma plays not just the first but all six suites wonderfully on this two-disc album. Turn it up loud or put on some headphones, and let yourself fly away on the sound of the strings as they carry you through a pure and rich soundscape that's elegantly simple yet so full of meaning as to move men to tears.

JS Bach & YoYoMa - The Master played by a Master
YoYo Ma awoke an entire generation to Bach with this recording. Listening to Ma play these works is truly a stunning thing.

Bach is THE master who demands attention and requires another master to play his work correctly and with emotion. In the hands of a technician, Bach can be all dried up and too mathematical. In the hands of a master such as Yo Yo Ma, the concept of the Master living forever through his music becomes true. Bach is all about math. But, with only the math and none of the humanity, Bach can be cold-- and that would be an appalling thing.

Bach's music is about the glorification of God and humanity and only the combination of technique, mathematics, and emotion can bring it alive and make it true. Bach is very challenging for every player on every instrument. Yo Yo Ma will forever be remembered for this 2 disc set. He introduced Bach to a new generation and made Bach seem cool again. But Bach has always been cool and always will be.

Yo Yo Ma's Cello Suites set the standard for every Bach cello recording before or after, for better or ill. But this is no disservice to Mr. Ma. It is rather an acknowledgment of the power of his performance, the brilliance of his technique, and his very special and rare ability to bring the master alive and off the page to enrapture new audiences.

Yo Yo Ma has done the world a service and Bach would certainly concur, I think.

I had a friend in Massachusetts who lived next door to Yo Yo Ma. My friend could hear him practicing the cello at all hours. I said, "Oh how lucky you are!" He replied, "Well, it gets really aggravating after a while-- he's playing all through the night."

I kindly replied, "You're a f****** moron."

What a brilliant set this is by Yo Yo Ma. Anything that advances Bach into the public consciousness as this recording did and still does is a service to humanity. Superb.