No manuscript of Bach's Cello Suites survives in his own handwriting, leading to uncertainty about their origin and performance details.
Instruments
Suite No. 5 requires a special tuning with the A string lowered to G, giving the instrument a darker, viola da gamba-like sound.
Composition History
The most reliable copies of Bach's Cello Suites are by his second wife, Anna Magdalena Bach, a musician of some distinction, and by organist Johann Peter Kellner.
Performer Biography
Lynden Cranham, the performer on this album, has a PhD in 19th-century literature, focusing on music in 19th-century London, in addition to her musical career.
Cultural Impact
The Cello Suites only became central to the cello repertoire in the 20th century, largely due to the renowned Catalan cellist Pablo Casals' performances and 1930s recording.
Recording & Production
The recording of these Cello Suites was made possible by the COVID-19 pandemic, which made the church venue more available due to concert cancellations.
Historical Context
Bach's Cello Suites were largely unknown to the public for a century after their composition, as Bach himself was relatively obscure during his lifetime.
