Wolfgang Rübsam, the performer on this album, is an internationally renowned Bach interpreter who previously recorded Bach's French Suites and Partitas for Brilliant Classics.
Composition History
The first English Suite, BWV 806, may have been composed as early as 1714 or around 1717, during Bach's Weimar period, with the others potentially written during his time in Köthen (1717-1723).
Composition History
The title "English Suites" was not given by Johann Sebastian Bach himself; it was likely attributed later, possibly due to a dedication to an Englishman or the use of the term "Englishmen" in a copy by Johann Christian Bach.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Bach's English Suites may represent an early exploration of mixing different national styles, a concept that evolved in his French Suites and culminated in a "stile misto" in his Partitas.
Instruments
Wolfgang Rübsam performs these suites on a lute-harpsichord from the Keith Hill studio, an instrument known for its sonorous lows and brilliant highs.
Instruments
The use of treble clef in most important copies of the suites and the unusually low range in some suites suggest that Bach may have had English harpsichords in mind, which were normal for such features.
Compositional Technique
Bach's English Suites incorporate elements of both French and Italian styles, such as French ornamentation and the use of pairs of movements (doubles), alongside Italianate influences in movements like the Bourrées and Gavottes.
