Editorial Review:Amazon.com:David Russell is a great guitarist, and this CD handsomely showcases his affinity for Bach. Without leaning toward Romanticism, Russell gets to the emotional content of the pieces, lingering nicely, for example, on the warmth of the lengthy Chaconne from the Partita No. 2. It would be easy to get bored with the sound of a solo guitar after an hour, but Russell won't permit it--sometimes his tone glistens, sometimes it caresses, always it keeps our attention. The opening prelude to the Lute Suite is a fast, bright movement, and while some will prefer it in Bach's own reuse as the opening of his Cantata No. 29, complete with trumpets and drums, this delicately filigreed version allows us to hear every note. And the mellow chorale prelude, 'Jesu, joy of man's desiring,' which closes the CD, has rarely sounded more beautiful.
--Robert Levine
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Disc 1:- Prelude
- Fuegue
- Allegro
- Chorale Prelude, 'Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme' BWV 645
- Allemande
- Courante
- Sarabande
- Gigue
- Chaconne
- Preludio
- Loure
- Gavotte En Rondeau
- Menuets I And II
- Bourree
- Gigue
- Chorale Prelude 'Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring'
Customer Reviews
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Russell plays Bach
A talented musician. His playing of the famous Chaconne seemed hurried and lost some of the majesty.
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Well done
If you were to play this CD for someone who knows little about classical music, they would assuredly say, "Wow, this is really beautiful music." Taking several of his own transcriptions of Bach's music, Scottish guitarist David Russell puts together on this CD a most lovely, satisfying and varied program. His style is warm, ever-smooth, graceful, thoughtful and non-flashy - all of which matches well the temperament of this Baroque music (which obviously is very different than the style used in Spanish guitar music). Technically, he is hard to fault with his silky-smooth (and quiet) hand movements, liquid-like legato and precise articulations. Maybe others might bring slightly more drama to certain part of the music, but I find David Russell's playing most inviting and accessible. His playing is - like is said of the music of Bach - "a treasure to uplift the spirit and refresh the soul."
The selections range from the soft-spoken, spiritually-reassuring transcriptions of the choral preludes to the virtuostic pieces like the d minor chaconne (originally for solo violin) and the noble, courtly suites inspired by the dance music of France of that era. Russell's approach and tone here is quite appealing, never overly-dramatic and shows the his talents for transcribing. It is just as wonderful to play as - dare we say - gently stimulating and inspiring 'background music' as it is to listen to and study in depth. His guitar is recorded in a superb sound ambiance that is full, clear and not deficient in any way.
Mr. Russell effectively captures the sunny exhuberance and charm of the great lute suite #4 - a composition brimming with many appealing and memorable melodies in the French manner. In his transciption of the violin partita, he brings a soft, tender and meditative quality to the sarabande. In a similar way in the intricate masterpiece chaconne movement, he tames the often 'sharp edges' of the violin versions to reveal a more soft-spoken masterpiece. Of course having six fingers compared to one bow to carve out the inter-twining counterpoint voices makes this easier to sound "seamless" on guitar. He fittingly closes the program with the well-known and loved prelude, "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" - which, according to the CD notes, is actually the title of the famous piano transcription given by Myra Hess. I always thought that was an odd or old-fashioned title. The original title of this choral prelude was, "Jesus remains my joy, my heart's comfort and balm." And David Russell plays this lovely piece with a wonderful warmth that - like the title suggests - is like a balm of comfort and assurance. All said, this is a most beautiful program containing several of the artist's own transcriptions that grows on you with frequently playing. 4.5 stars overall.
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Awe-inspiring, accurate to the nail
David Russell is one of the greatest classical players of all time, mainly because of his phrasing. His technique is flawless. I saw him live in concert in San Fran, not one mistake. Amazing.
Chaconne on this album is amazing, such amazing control of volume...
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Well-done, and rare, Bach on the guitar
Like some other reviewers who rate this recording at 5 stars, I too might prefer some other performances in the Chaconne from Partita No. 2. On the other hand, Russell's playing is so extraordinary, I decided to suspend my prior preferences and attempted to hear that one movement as if for the first time. What I heard was a joyous and brilliant expression of pure freedom and mastery.
Rather than try to build to an intense sound in the climax, as one often hears (certainly from Milstein's or Grumiaux's violin), Russell seems to accept the limitations of his instrument, steps back, and seems to say, "Well, then, how CAN I bring off this beast of a piece on six plucked strings?" The answer is that instead of trying to make his superb, but limited, guitar match the decibel intensity implied by the music, he understates the whole thing, freeing up his monstrous technique, which he then applies toward the subtlest shades of tempo and dynamics, while racing toward the climactic conclusion (which anticipates the actual anti-climactic conclusion of this piece) with utter abandon. The effect is that the "missing" intensity echoes in the very deep respect Russell has for the sheer volume of notes that the music conjures. He deftly and clearly picks out the tune over that subtley sonic verbiage in a way that leaves no doubt of its intent.
I found myself urging Russell forward, but while some who play such music in an understated way leave it hanging, Russell somehow cleans up the loose ends, ties the knot, and truely brings it off--just so.
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First rate Bach!
I've rarely read so many conflicting reviews and reactions to a CD.
As a classical guitarist for many years (over 30), done graduate work in music, and listened to a lot of musicians (most non-guitarists), I can say that 1. everyone is entitled to his/her opinion and 2. I trust my experience and what I hear.
What I hear is a guitarist not only with a superb technique but phrasing that "breathes", that "dances." I've heard better Chaconnes on the guitar, violin and piano but, for me, David Russell overall is a very special guitarist. It is hard to find anyone, on any instrument, with his combination of technique and "feeling;" nobody can sustain that all the time.
The highlights, for me, of the CD are the transcribed Partita no. 2 and the Prelude, Fugue and Allegro. The transcriptions of the Bach Chorales - Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and Wachet Auf - are good.
Suffice it to say that this was my first time hearing David Russell. That he impressed me so much I went out and bought his Baroque album (excellent), his Barrios album (excellent), and his
Aire Latino album (am not sure what I think of it).
As a friend recently reminded me, with playing of this level, it is a matter of taste. For Bach on the guitar, I suggest Barrueco's recording of the Unaccompanied Sonatas; John Williams's CD of the Lute Suites; Sharon Isbin's CD of the Lute Suites; Segovia's Bach (in general); and Nathan Milstein and Henryk Szeryng's recordings of the Sonatas and Partitas for Unaccompanied Violin (which contain the Partita no. 2 on David's recording). For great Bach playing on the piano, try Rosalyn Tureck, Angela Hewitt and Martha Argerich. And trust your ears and instincts!
