Bach Unaccompanied Cello Suites: Performed on Double Bass

Track Listings

1. Suite for Solo Cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: I. Prelude

2. II. Allemande

3. III. Courante

4. IV. Sarabande

5. V. Menuett I & II

6. VI. Gigue

7. Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prelude

8. II. Allemande

9. III. Courante

10. IV. Sarabande

11. V. Menuett I & II

12. VI. Gigue

13. Suite for Solo Cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: I. Prelude

14. II. Allemande

15. III. Courante

16. IV. Sarabande

17. V. Gavotte I & II

18. VI. Gigue

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The double bass only recently began to be regarded as a solo instrument, largely thanks to outstanding players who inspired composers to write for it. Until then, its repertoire consisted mostly of transcriptions, usually made by bassists themselves. Edgar Meyer, renowned as a bass virtuoso as well as a versatile, multifaceted composer, has now transcribed the Bach Cello Suites, three of which he plays on this disc. It is a brave and noble undertaking and a remarkable achievement. His command of instrument and bow, including a splendid chord-technique, is awesome, his articulation clean and variable, his intonation impeccable, although, presumably for stylistic reasons, he uses hardly any vibrato. This makes the sound hollow and remote, especially in the low register, which undercuts the expressiveness of the music and Meyer's obvious passionate love for it. His phrasing has a spoken quality; he builds up great climaxes and produces a wonderful resonance with the open strings, changing the Suites' tonality up or down a tone to fit the bass. He favors slow Minuets, and sometimes gets a bit ponderous, but gives the fast dances a lively bounce. His sense of structure and voice-leading is admirable, his rhythm supple but rock-steady, though he inexplicably cuts short some final long notes before repeats. Forget the sound of the great cellists you associate with these works, and listen to this record with a fresh ear. --Edith Eisler

Tracks:

Suite for Solo Cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: I. Prelude
II. Allemande
III. Courante
IV. Sarabande
V. Menuett I & II
VI. Gigue
Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prelude
II. Allemande
III. Courante
IV. Sarabande
V. Menuett I & II
VI. Gigue
Suite for Solo Cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: I. Prelude
II. Allemande
III. Courante
IV. Sarabande
V. Gavotte I & II
VI. Gigue

Amazon.com

The double bass only recently began to be regarded as a solo instrument, largely thanks to outstanding players who inspired composers to write for it. Until then, its repertoire consisted mostly of transcriptions, usually made by bassists themselves. Edgar Meyer, renowned as a bass virtuoso as well as a versatile, multifaceted composer, has now transcribed the Bach Cello Suites, three of which he plays on this disc. It is a brave and noble undertaking and a remarkable achievement. His command of instrument and bow, including a splendid chord-technique, is awesome, his articulation clean and variable, his intonation impeccable, although, presumably for stylistic reasons, he uses hardly any vibrato. This makes the sound hollow and remote, especially in the low register, which undercuts the expressiveness of the music and Meyer's obvious passionate love for it. His phrasing has a spoken quality; he builds up great climaxes and produces a wonderful resonance with the open strings, changing the Suites' tonality up or down a tone to fit the bass. He favors slow Minuets, and sometimes gets a bit ponderous, but gives the fast dances a lively bounce. His sense of structure and voice-leading is admirable, his rhythm supple but rock-steady, though he inexplicably cuts short some final long notes before repeats. Forget the sound of the great cellists you associate with these works, and listen to this record with a fresh ear. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Still my favorite bass cd.......2006-05-17

Without the tone of the instrument, you would never guess that a bass was playing at this level of precision. The pharisees of classical music who critique Meyer's performance for not sounding enough like a cello or not being Baroque enough is the equivalent of criticizing an apple for not tasting more like an orange. This cd is inspiring for any musician, but particularly for bassists tired of being relegated to simple droning on their instruments.

Bach Unaccompanied Cello Suites:Perfromed on Double Bass.......2006-03-23

Excellent, I wish there were a dozen more like it!

3 4 & 6 please!.......2005-10-14

i desperatly hope that meyer will record suites 3, 4 and 6. he is utterly amazing. i can't imagine what the 6th suite will sound like on double bass. it seems almost impossible really. cheers to mr. meyer!

An absolute delight.......2005-07-25

Incredible, subtle, mesmerizing, rewarding, creative, addictive, relentless, matchless, soulful, powerful. And more.

Meyer has redefined the Bach Cello Suites in ways heretofore unimaginable. The deep notes of his double bass can give you goose bumps at times. The phrasings are superb, and his mastery of techniques is truly awe inspiring. Bach himself would have been pleased!

The only complaint I have is that this CD contains only three of the six suites. Here's to hoping that Meyer will do the rest of them in the future!

Fantastic.......2005-01-16

Edgar Meyer shows his virtuosity in this recording. If you enjoy the sound of a double bass and classical music, you'll love this album. (Amazon.com is missing the second movement of the fifth suite.)

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Music Review

My Beautiful Demon [Import]

The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross

The Trumpet in Baroque Chamber Settings

Prayer Warrior

Tribal Works V.2 [Import]

Tournado

Touma Sera

U Got Miilk? [Explicit Lyrics]

To Earth With Love/High Flyer

The Q 5 Star Reviews, Vol. 1 [Box set] [Import]

Tatejazz

Tributo A Los Grandes: Los Panchos

Trunk Funk 101 [Clean]

Gospel Gold

Saxophone Colossus (20 Bit Mastering)

1. Suite for Solo Cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: I. Prelude
2. II. Allemande
3. III. Courante
4. IV. Sarabande
5. V. Menuett I & II
6. VI. Gigue
7. Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prelude
8. II. Allemande
9. III. Courante
10. IV. Sarabande
11. V. Menuett I & II
12. VI. Gigue
13. Suite for Solo Cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: I. Prelude
14. II. Allemande
15. III. Courante
16. IV. Sarabande
17. V. Gavotte I & II
18. VI. Gigue