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Composer: Bach, Johann Sebastian

English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807 (arr. D. Cerovic and G. Krivokapic for 2 guitars)

Montenegrin Guitar Duo

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Year of Production: 2014

Playing Time: 00:21:43

Catalogue Number: NVF0157

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Bach's keyboard works known as the English Suites offer a series of dance movements which, despite their name, owe more to earlier French and German models.Transcriptions of Bach for solo guitar have been popular since the nineteenth century and the emergence of the guitar duo extends still further the potential for exciting and revelatory performances.

English Suite No. 2 in A minor begins with a longer Prelude demonstrating admirably the flexibility of the introductory prelude concept which lays down few structural rules unlike the other movements which generally adhere to specific dance patterns. Following the sheer energy of the Prelude, the Allemande comes as a gentle stream of tranquillity. The single Courante is less extended than those in Suite No. 1, the texture being that of flowing quavers.

For the Sarabande J.S. Bach put in a second example of the piece complete with agrements or embellishments, an idea which had found a precedent in Couperin's Premier Ordre (Paris 1713). This establishes a guide to the composer's own approach to embellishing his music. The two Bourrees offer elegant contrasts to each other in key, texture and mood, the second being more chordal and buoyant than its two-part invention-like predecessor. The Gigue differs from that of Suite No. 1 in that the second half leads back to the beginning for a repeat.