Bach's Passacaglia in C minor, arranged for this album, presents a single musical theme 21 times, a highly symbolic number for Bach, in 21 ingenious variations.
Compositional Technique
John Adams's 'Shaker Loops' uses repetition and infinite development of short motifs, expanding until they create new musical 'landscapes'.
Compositional Technique
Henryk Górecki's Harpsichord Concerto, featured on this album, shares the same D minor key as Bach's Harpsichord Concerto, and both have opening movements that are lively and light.
Recording & Production
Knut Nystedt's 'Immortal Bach' is presented in two versions on the album: one for string ensemble and an a cappella vocal version, which provides a 'wonderful surprise' and breaks the instrumental homogeneity.
Interpretation
The album's concept, 'Bach Minimaliste,' explores the fundamental principle of 'development' in Bach's music, drawing parallels with contemporary minimalist and repetitive music.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Simon-Pierre Bestion, the director and arranger for this album, finds Johann Sebastian Bach's harpsichord music to be remarkably 'electric' and modern, with a hypnotic, infinitely evolving quality.
Interpretation
John Adams's 'Shaker Loops' is performed on gut-stringed instruments for this recording, which gives the music an 'incredible texture' and a 'savage, brute force' due to the bow's attack on the string.
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