The cello used for the first five Suites was made by Antonio Stradivari in Cremona in 1726, when he was in his eighties, and is known as the 'Comte de Saveuse'.
Composition History
J.S. Bach likely composed the Six Suites for Solo Cello between 1717 and 1723 while serving as Kapellmeister in Cöthen.
Compositional Technique
Bach meticulously chose different keys for each Suite, often aligning the key-note and fifth degree with the cello's open strings, except for the Fourth Suite in E-flat.
Compositional Technique
For the Fifth Suite, Bach required the top string to be tuned down from A to G, creating a darker sound, and for the Sixth Suite, he specified a five-string cello.
Compositional Technique
Bach's Cello Suites ingeniously combine melody, harmony, and multiple voices on an instrument that typically plays one note at a time.
Historical Context
The original manuscript for Bach's Cello Suites is lost, so cellists rely on copies made by his second wife Anna Magdalena Bach and Johann Peter Kellner, among others.
Performer Biography
Robert Max, the performer on this album, has a diverse career encompassing solo performance, chamber music, orchestral playing, conducting, and teaching.
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