The idea for this album, which recomposes J.S. Bach's Violin Concertos, was inspired by Max Richter's popular recomposition of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios in London, between June 4-6, 2020.
Composer Biography
Christian Svarfvar, the violinist on this album, has had a close relationship with Bach's Concertos his entire life, even making his debut with the Violin Concerto in A minor at age ten.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Johan Ullén's approach to recomposing Bach was to extend moments of musical sweetness and pleasure, allowing listeners to "rest in this sweetness, stay for a while, even dive deep into it and swim around."
Interpretation
The recomposition features a solo violin part written extremely high, demanding much from the soloist Christian Svarfvar, but providing majestic depth and contrast to the enriched low cellos and basses.
Cultural Impact
The album's liner notes state that J.S. Bach's music has influenced many artists across genres, from Chopin to The Beatles to Avicii, demonstrating his lasting relevance.
Compositional Technique
Johan Ullén, the composer for this album, created his recompositions by looping parts of Bach's original music, adding new layers, harmonies, and sonorities, sometimes using as little as eight bars as the foundation for an entire movement.
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