Search - Johann Sebastian Bach :: The Lute Music of Johann Sebastian Bach, Vol. 1

Eduardo Eguez's Superb Bach for Lute

M. Levitt - classical music buff | Philadelphia, PA | 12/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Eduardo Eguez's The Lute Music of Johann Sebastian Bach, Volume 1 is one of the most beautiful Bach recordings I have been privileged to hear.



I say that as a classical guitarist myself owning and having heard mostly fine recordings of Bach by guitarists John Williams, Sharon Isbin, Paul Galbraith, Andres Segovia, David Russell, Ana Vidovic, Manuel Barrueco and lutenists Paul Beier, Hopkinson Smith and Julian Bream.



It isn't only the beauty of Mr. Eguez's phrasing, but its seemingly deeply felt quality, its songfulness and his obvious love for this music, the clarity of his playing and the spontaneous feel, freedom and warmth of his phrasing despite the time he must have put into thinking about this music. On top of that, this is as beautiful a digital recording of the lute as I have heard anywhere.



Unlike a number of recordings of this music, such as Williams, Isbin and Galbraith who record complete cycles of the lute suites, Mr. Eguez offers his as a cross section of Bach's lute music, a recital. The record begins with the Prelude, Fugue and Allegro (BWV 998), and follows it with two suites written by Bach for the lute. In Volume 2 (not reviewed here), he offers another of the lute suites (BWV 1006a), followed by transcriptions of Bach's Sonata no. 1 for Unaccompanied Violin, and the Bach Cello Suite no. 1.



I found out about this recording - and the label M.A. Recording - from the website "Bach Plucked" which includes reviews of a number of guitarists and lutenists performing Bach.



Essential for any lover of Bach on the guitar or lute, or fine guitar or lute playing in general.



"

Totally lovely (But beware of tax, EUROPEANS)

Plain | Durham, UK | 01/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Totally lovely. Europeans, don't buy them together though, cos the mail will charge you an additional $ 15 tax plus handling fee (on purchases over $ 28 or so). Get the second volume first. Apologies to the guys who only like several pages of review, just read the other two reviews for Volume 2."

Not my favorite

L. Polgar | Laguna Beach, CA | 01/30/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am rating the quality of the recording sound and the seller's good service with 5 stars., and, the music with only 4 stars That being said, I do not much care for these recordings. I bought both CD recordings by this artist. The music I listen to, however, is the recording for Lute in the Original Key and Tunning, also available online. They have an atmosphere unto themselves- a dreamy quality. These recordings being reviewed seem too "slick" for me..supermarket music style would be too harsh but something in between. Now, I am not a music critic-that's just my taste. others praise these recordings and maybe rightly so. Nevertheless, I do believe if i had heard the Original Keys and Tunning music first, I would never have purchased these recordings. That's just my personal taste."