Bach: Arrangements for eight-string guitar by Raphaella Smits

Featuring

Raphaella Smits
Johann Sebastian Bach

Did you know?

1/7

Instruments

The album features an eight-stringed guitar built in 2006 by Kolya Panhuyzen, a luthier whose work is inspired by old instruments.

Recording & Production

This album was recorded in January 2009 at the chapel of 'Rosario' in Bever, Belgium.

Performer Biography

Raphaëlla Smits, the guitarist on this album, has been playing eight-stringed guitars and historical instruments for 30 years across Europe, the Americas, and Japan.

Compositional Technique

Bach was a master at creating 'virtual polyphony' even without an accompanying bass, using broken chords, double stopping, and shifting registers.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Bach's music is considered by the performer to be more important than the instrument, as he himself designed single pieces for different arrangements.

Interpretation

Raphaëlla Smits chose the eight-stringed guitar to achieve a transparent sound, allowing Bach's music to speak without the performer or instrument dominating.

Composer Biography

Bach's deeply felt music is believed to reflect the frequent feelings of bereavement he experienced throughout his life, possibly explaining the recurring motif of death in his works.