Bach: English Suites, BWV 806-811 Lorenzo Ghielmi

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750): English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806:
• 1Bach: English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806: I. Prelude02:25
• 2Bach: English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806: II. Allemande06:02
• 3Bach: English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806: III. Courante I01:55
• 4Bach: English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806: IV. Courante II avec 2 Doubles - Double I - Double II04:36
• 5Bach: English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806: V. Sarabande03:11
• 6Bach: English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806: VI. Bourées I & II04:55
• 7Bach: English Suite No. 1 in A Major, BWV 806: VII. Gigue03:10
• English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807:
• 8Bach: English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: I. Prelude05:13
• 9Bach: English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: II. Allemande04:31
• 10Bach: English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: III. Courante02:05
• 11Bach: English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: IV. Sarabande - Les agréments de la même Sarabande04:06
• 12Bach: English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: V. Bourrées I & II04:48
• 13Bach: English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: VI. Gigue03:57
• English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808:
• 14Bach: English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808: I. Prelude03:38
• 15Bach: English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808: II. Allemande04:28
• 16Bach: English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808: III. Courante02:49
• 17Bach: English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808: IV. Sarabande - Les agréments de la même Sarabande03:52
• 18Bach: English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808: V. Gavotte I - Gavotte II ou Musette03:28
• 19Bach: English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808: VI. Gigue03:09
• English Suite No. 4 in F Major, BWV 809:
• 20Bach: English Suite No. 4 in F Major, BWV 809: I. Prelude05:16
• 21Bach: English Suite No. 4 in F Major, BWV 809: III. Allemande04:02
• 22Bach: English Suite No. 4 in F Major, BWV 809: III. Courante01:53
• 23Bach: English Suite No. 4 in F Major, BWV 809: IV. Sarabande03:38
• 24Bach: English Suite No. 4 in F Major, BWV 809: V. Menuets I & II03:30
• 25Bach: English Suite No. 4 in F Major, BWV 809: VI. Gigue03:46
• English Suite No. 5 in E Minor, BWV 810:
• 26Bach: English Suite No. 5 in E Minor, BWV 810: I. Prelude05:42
• 27Bach: English Suite No. 5 in E Minor, BWV 810: II. Allemande04:23
• 28Bach: English Suite No. 5 in E Minor, BWV 810: III. Courante02:30
• 29Bach: English Suite No. 5 in E Minor, BWV 810: IV. Sarabande03:41
• 30Bach: English Suite No. 5 in E Minor, BWV 810: V. Passepied I en Rondeau - Passepied II03:56
• 31Bach: English Suite No. 5 in E Minor, BWV 810: VI. Gigue03:29
• English Suite No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 811:
• 32Bach: English Suite No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 811: I. Prelude08:37
• 33Bach: English Suite No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 811: II. Allemande04:36
• 34Bach: English Suite No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 811: III. Courante02:45
• 35Bach: English Suite No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 811: IV. Sarabande03:07
• 36Bach: English Suite No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 811: V. Double03:07
• 37Bach: English Suite No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 811: VI. Gavotte I - Gavotte II (Musette)04:15
• 38Bach: English Suite No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 811: VII. Gigue03:37
• Total Runtime02:28:08

Info for Bach: English Suites, BWV 806-811

Bach's English Suites are entitled in a way that is as strange as it is hard to explain, at least at first glance. Contrary to what one might assume, these works are more closely related to French suites than to English music. The title is taken from the inscription "Fait pour les Anglois", found on a manuscript owned by Bach's youngest son.

In addition to an extensive prelude and four traditional dances Allemande, Courante, Sarabande and Gigue each suite also contains "gallantries", lighter dances that were fashionable at the time. In these dance movements, grace and melody play together with a compositional artistry that elevates them far beyond incidental music for courtly dances.

After the Partitas published by Passacaille in 2021 (PAS1105), Lorenzo Ghielmi, one of the most renowned Bach interpreters of our day, now releases the English Suites, recorded on a harpsichord built by Detmar Hungelbert after an instrument by Michael Mietke (ca. 1710 in Berlin).

Lorenzo Ghielmi, harpsichord

Lorenzo Ghielmi
has dedicated may years of his career to the study and performance of Renaissance and Baroque music. As one of the leading specialists for Baroque keyboard instruments of our times worldwide he has performed all over Europe, in Japan, Canada and the United States, and has made numerous solo-recordings for broadcast and CD.

Starting his international career as founder member of the famous group Il Gardino Armonica he in 2005 decided to dedicate more time to his solo playing and own projects, and founded his ensemble La Divina Armonia, with which in the meanwhile he realised numerous recordings, for instance organ concertos by Handel (two parts, both distinguished with the diapason d‘or in France, part II even with de Diapason d'année) and Haydn, the Passion after St. John by Francesco Feo as well as music by Bach.

The ensemble was invited to many of the most important festivals and stages for Early Music in Europa, amongst others the Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht (where they were Artist in Residence in 2017), Osterfestival Hall in Tirol, Salzburger Bachfest, Bozart Brussels, as well as to Oslo or Bruges.

Ghielmi teaches organ, harpsichord and chamber music at the Accademia Internazionale della Musica in Milan. From 2006 until 2015 he also held the chair of organ professor at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. Furthermore he is the organist of the Basilica of San Simpliciano in Milan.

Besides he published a book on Nicolaus Bruhns, and several essays on organ building in the 16th and 17th centuriers and on performing Bach‘s music.

Booklet for Bach: English Suites, BWV 806-811