Aleksander Debicz & Marcin Zdunik - Bach Stories (2017)

Bach Stories explores a new way of thinking about classical music and improvisation; it presents historical music practice in a contemporary form. This double album from Warner Classics bears the fruits of a friendship and collaboration between two young but already much-awarded musicians. Aleksander Dębicz (piano) and Marcin Zdunik (cello) combine virtuosity and musical drama with the sheer joy and freshness of music-making in a unique programme of chamber works by J.S. Bach and improvisations inspired by those works.

These improvisations – in a classical style rather than jazz – create a bridge between two periods, bringing Bach’s music closer to the modern ear by using new means of expression. The Stories evoked in the title could be a simple idea, a fleeting memory or a labyrinthine drama. 'Bach’s music stirred and inspired our imagination, evoking both simple associations and complex narrative scheme', explain the musicians.

TRACKLIST

CD1
01. Sonata in G Major, BWV 1027: I. Adagio (arr. for Cello & Piano)
02. Sonata G Major, BWV 1027: II. Allegro ma non tanto (arr. for Cello & Piano)
03. Sonata in G Major, BWV 1027: III. Andante (arr. for Cello & Piano)
04. Sonata in G Major, BWV 1027: IV. Allegro moderato (arr. for Cello & Piano)
05. Cantata, BWV 147: X. "Jesus bleibet meine Freude" (arr. for Cello & Piano)
06. Sonata in D Major, BWV 1028: I. Adagio (arr. for Cello & Piano)
07. Sonata in D Major, BWV 1028: II. Allegro (arr. for Cello & Piano)
08. Sonata in D Major, BWV 1028: III. Andante (arr. for Cello & Piano)
09. Sonata in D Major, BWV 1028: IV. Allegro (arr. for Cello & Piano)
10. Cantata, BMV 208: IX. Aria "Schafe können sicher weiden" (arr. for Cello & Piano)
11. Sonata in G Minor, BWV 1029: I. Vivace (arr. for Cello & Piano)
12. Sonata in G Minor, BWV 1029: II. Adagio (arr. for Cello & Piano)
13. Sonata in G Minor, BWV 1029: III. Allegro (arr. for Cello & Piano)
14. Cantata, BWV 170: I. Aria "Vergnugte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust" (arr. for Cello & Piano)

CD2
01. Improvisation I (arr. for Cello & Piano)
02. Von Gott will ich nicht lassen, BWV 658 (arr. for Cello & Piano)
03. Improvisation II (arr. for Cello & Piano)
04. O Lamm Gottes unschuldi, BWV 656 (arr. for Cello & Piano)
05. Erbarm' dich, o Herre Gott, BWV 721 (arr. for Cello & Piano)
06. Improvisation III (arr. for Cello & Piano)
07. Herr Gott, nun schleuss den Himmel auf, BWV 617 (arr. for Cello & Piano)
08. Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein, BWV 734 (arr. for Cello & Piano)
09. Improvisation IV (arr. for Cello & Piano)
10. Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 (arr. for Cello & Piano)
11. Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend, BWV 665 (arr. for Cello & Piano)
12. Improvisation V (arr. for Cello & Piano)
13. Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 645 (arr. for Cello & Piano)
14. O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß, BWV 622 (arr. for Cello & Piano)
15. Improvisation VI (arr. for Cello & Piano)
16. Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639 (arr. for Cello & Piano)