The French Suites, unlike the mathematically precise Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, showcase freedom and imagination with transparent polyphony and unrestricted voice leading.
Composition History
The French Suites were dedicated by Bach to his second wife, Anna Magdalena, a talented singer whom he married in 1721.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Bach intended his works to have both didactic value and a high level of artistry, approaching composition with systematic precision and analytical inquisitiveness.
Composer Biography
Johann Sebastian Bach's time at the ducal court in Köthen (1717-1723) was a period of significant personal and professional change, allowing him to focus on harpsichord works.
Performer Biography
Lilianna Stawarz, the harpsichordist, is a professor and Head of the Interdepartmental Faculty of Early Music at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw.
Interpretation
The recording was made using an unevenly tempered tonal system at 415 Hz, hypothetically developed by the harpsichord copy's creator, to match Bach's tonality.
Instruments
The harpsichord used for this recording is a custom copy by Krzysztof Kulis of an 18th-century concert instrument by Pascal Taskin, a French harpsichord builder.
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