Description

Bach’s French Suites are, in general, more intimate and smaller in scale than Bach’s other suite collections for keyboard. The movements are generally shorter and the keyboard range smaller than is required in his later pieces. This apparent economy, however, does not lessen the quality of the French Suites. They are less overtly showy, perhaps, but nevertheless imbued with spirit and feeling, grace and lyricism, and on occasion, brilliance as well. Their more intimate nature conceals very considerable challenges for the performer.

David Cates, who plays a harpsichord made by Owen Daly in 1999, after an instrument by Antoine Vaudry built in 1981, is rapidly becoming recognized as one today’s most unique and important artists performing on the harpsichord. His previous recordings of solo works by Froberger and J.S. Bach have met with widespread critical acclaim.

The 2002 Classical Music Listener’s Companion calls him one of the 20 most important harpsichordists recording today, “an unusual interpreter” and an “outstanding talent”.

J.S. BACH: THE FRENCH SUITES, BWV 812-817, selected Preludes, BWV 923, 999, 815a, and three Preludes from the Well-Tempered Clavier, performed by David Cates, harpsichord. CD1 49:38; CD2 45:22. (DDD) UPC #0-17685-11242-3

“a fine recital by a highly gifted artist, ideally suited to almost all the music chosen. I shall particularly prize the disc for the Liadov and Rebikov, and the Bortkiewicz for the fine pianism with which it is presented. A full and rich recording brings added value, as do the informative notes by Farhan Malik”.

– Christopher Howell

Disc 1 Sound Clips (MP3):

1. Prelude in B minor, BWV 923 – David Cates

2. French Suite No- 3 in B minor, BWV 814 I- Allemande – David Cates

3. French Suite No- 3 in B minor, BWV 814 II- Courante – David Cates

4. French Suite No- 3 in B minor, BWV 814 III- Sarabande – David Cates

5. French Suite No- 3 in B minor, BWV 814 IV- Anglaise – David Cates

6. French Suite No- 3 in B minor, BWV 814 V- Menuet I-II – David Cates

7. French Suite No- 3 in B minor, BWV 814 VI- Gigue – David Cates

8. The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, BWV 846-869 Prelude No- 15 in G major, BWV 860 – David Cates

9. French Suite No- 5 in G major, BWV 816 I- Allemande – David Cates

10. French Suite No- 5 in G major, BWV 816 II- Courante – David Cates

11. French Suite No- 5 in G major, BWV 816 III- Sarabande – David Cates

12. French Suite No- 5 in G major, BWV 816 IV- Gavotte – David Cates

13. French Suite No- 5 in G major, BWV 816 V- Bourree – David Cates

14. French Suite No- 5 in G major, BWV 816 VI- Loure – David Cates

15. French Suite No- 5 in G major, BWV 816 VII- Gigue – David Cates

16. Prelude in C minor, BWV 999 – David Cates

17. French Suite No- 2 in C minor, BWV 813 I- Allemande – David Cates

18. French Suite No- 2 in C minor, BWV 813 II- Courante – David Cates

19. French Suite No- 2 in C minor, BWV 813 III- Sarabande – David Cates

20. French Suite No- 2 in C minor, BWV 813 IV- Air – David Cates

21. French Suite No- 2 in C minor, BWV 813 V- Menuet I-II – David Cates

22. French Suite No- 2 in C minor, BWV 813 VI- Gigue – David Cates

Disc 2 Sound Clips (MP3):

1. French Suite No- 4 in E flat major, BWV 815a (variante) I- Prelude – David Cates

2. French Suite No- 4 in E flat major, BWV 815 I- Allemande – David Cates

3. French Suite No- 4 in E flat major, BWV 815 II- Courante – David Cates

4. French Suite No- 4 in E flat major, BWV 815 III- Sarabande – David Cates

5. French Suite No- 4 in E flat major, BWV 815 IV- Gavotte – David Cates

6. French Suite No- 4 in E flat major, BWV 815 V- Air – David Cates

7. French Suite No- 4 in E flat major, BWV 815 VI- Menuet – David Cates

8. French Suite No- 4 in E flat major, BWV 815 VII- Gigue – David Cates

9. The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, BWV 846-869 Prelude No- 6 in D minor, BWV 851 – David Cates

10. French Suite No- 1 in D minor, BWV 812 I- Allemande – David Cates

11. French Suite No- 1 in D minor, BWV 812 II- Courante – David Cates

12. French Suite No- 1 in D minor, BWV 812 III- Sarabande – David Cates

13. French Suite No- 1 in D minor, BWV 812 IV- Menuet I-II – David Cates

14. French Suite No- 1 in D minor, BWV 812 V- Gigue – David Cates

15. The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, BWV 846-869 Prelude No- 9 in E major, BWV 854 – David Cates

16. French Suite No- 6 in E major, BWV 817 I- Allemande – David Cates

17. French Suite No- 6 in E major, BWV 817 II- Courante – David Cates

18. French Suite No- 6 in E major, BWV 817 III- Sarabande – David Cates

19. French Suite No- 6 in E major, BWV 817 IV- Gavotte – David Cates

20. French Suite No- 6 in E major, BWV 817 V- Menuet Polonais – Petit Menuet – David Cates

21. French Suite No- 6 in E major, BWV 817 VI- Bourree – David Cates

22. French Suite No- 6 in E major, BWV 817 VII- Gigue – David Cates