Paolo Zanzu, the harpsichordist, was a prizewinner at the Bruges International Harpsichord Competition in 2010.
Composition History
One theory suggests the 'English' title of Bach's Suites comes from a dedication to an English nobleman, possibly a patron Bach wished to impress.
Compositional Technique
The tonal plan of Bach's six English Suites forms a descending hexachord (A major, A minor, G minor, F major, E minor, D minor), which recalls the melody of the chorale Jesu meine Freude.
Compositional Technique
The preludes in Bach's English Suites grow progressively longer, with the first lasting about two minutes and the last almost eight minutes.
Performer Biography
Paolo Zanzu has served as assistant conductor for notable figures like William Christie and Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
Composition History
The 'English' Suites by Bach are believed to have taken their structure from the harpsichord suites of Charles Dieupart, a French musician based in London.
Instruments
The harpsichord used for this recording was made in 1995 by Anthony Sidey and Frédéric Bal, modeled after a historic German instrument from the school of Gottfried Silbermann, circa 1735.
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