J.S. Bach: Cello Suites (Arr. for Theorbo by Yasunori Imamura), Vol. 2
4/11/2025, 18 Tracks, 1:10:38
Featuring
Yasunori Imamura
Johann Sebastian Bach
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Performer Biography
Yasunori Imamura, a prominent lutenist, is a professor of lute at conservatories in Strasbourg and Frankfurt am Main, and has made over 150 recordings.
Compositional Technique
Bach's Cello Suite No. 6 was originally written for a cello with five strings, posing difficulties for modern cellists but making it suitable for the theorbo.
Compositional Technique
Each of Bach's Cello Suites contains six movements, beginning with a prelude and ending with a gigue, with old court dances in between.
Compositional Technique
The Sarabande, a slow, stately dance originating in Spain, serves as the emotional center of each suite, characterized by an accented middle beat.
Composition History
The original manuscripts for Bach's Cello Suites have been lost, with the earliest source being in the handwriting of Bach's wife, Anna Magdalena.
Interpretation
Lutenist Yasunori Imamura chose the theorbo for these Bach Cello Suites to retain the cello's deep, rich resonance, as the theorbo has a similar range.
Instruments
The theorbo, a long-necked Baroque instrument similar to the chitarrone, is the most important plucked instrument in the lute family.
