Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Béla Bartók
Performer: Julien Libeer
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Release: 2020
Size: 973 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Johann Sebastian Bach:
French Suite No. 5 in G major, BWV816
01. I. Allemande
02. II. Courante
03. III. Sarabande
04. IV. Gavotte
05. V. Bourrée
06. VI. Loure
07. VII. Gigue
Béla Bartók:
Out of Doors, Sz. 81, BB89
08. I. With Drums and Pipes. Pesante
09. II. Barcarolla. Andante
10. III. Musettes. Moderato
11. IV. The Night’s music. Lento
12. V. The Chase. Presto
Johann Sebastian Bach:
Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV826
13. I. Sinfonia
14. II. Allemande
15. III. Courante
16. IV. Sarabande
17. V. Rondeaux
18. VI. Capriccio
Béla Bartók:
Piano Suite, BB 70, Sz. 62, Op. 14
19. I. Allegretto
20. II. Scherzo
21. III. Allegro molto
22. IV. Sostenuto
Beyond their lifelong interest in keyboard instruments of all types (organ, harpsichord and clavichord in the case of Bach; modern piano as a percussion instrument in the case of Bartók), other shared concerns connect these two giants of classical music who at first glance appear to be polar opposites.
The juxtaposition of the two composers is not the least appeal of this album which also marks Julien Libeer’s first project for harmonia mundi: this ardent advocate of a clear and direct approach deftly combines keen intuition with a sense of formal rigour to bring four masterful examples of the ‘suite’ genre into a dialogue spanning across the centuries that set them apart.