Sony Classical is pleased to announce another ten releases in its increasingly comprehensive series of Classical Masters. These new budget-priced releases contain classic recordings, many of them newly remastered, by some of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. The Australian guitarist John Williams has long been universally recognized as “a true master”, to quote the Guardian. The centrepiece of Sony’s new reissue of his Bach recordings is formed by the Suites for solo lute. Also contained on this release are Williams’s inspired transcriptions of the E major Violin Concerto (with the English Chamber Orchestra), preludes and fugues, chorales and movements from various suites. “John Williams is a superb technician,” wrote MusicWeb International, “and justifiably deserves the accolades heaped on him during his long career. His rendition of these works is most authoritative and executed with admirable fluidity.”
DISC 1 - CD Suite in E Minor for Lute, BWV 996
1 I. Passaggio - Presto
2 II. Allemande
3 III. Courante
4 IV. Sarabande
5 V. Bourrée
6 VI. Gigue
Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E-Flat Major, BWV 998
7 I. Prelude
8 II. Fugue
9 III. Allegro
Suite in A Minor for Lute, BWV 997 (Originally in C Minor)
10 I. Preludio
11 II. Fuga
12 III. Sarabande
13 IV. Gigue
14 V. Double
DISC 2 - CD Suite in A Minor for Lute, BWV 995 (Originally in G Minor)
1 I. Präludium - Presto
2 II. Allemande
3 III. Courante
4 IV. Sarabande
5 V. Gavotte I & II
6 VI. Gigue
Suite in E Major for Lute, BWV 1006a
7 I. Prélude
8 II. Loure
9 III. Gavotte en Rondeau
10 IV. Menuetts I & II
11 V. Bourrée
12 VI. Gigue
13 Präludium in C Minor, BWV 999
14 Fugue in G Minor, BWV 1000
DISC 3 - CD Violin Concerto No. 2 in E Major, BWV 1042 (Transcribed for Guitar and Orchestra by John Williams)
1 I. Allegro
2 II. Adagio
3 III. Allegro assai
4 Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 1003: III. Andante (Aria) [Transcribed for Guitar by John Williams]
5 Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: V. Chaconne (Transcribed for Guitar by John Williams)
Suite in E Major for Lute, BWV 1006a
6 I. Praeludium
7 II. Loure
8 III. Gavotte
9 IV & V: Menuetts I and II
10 VI. Bourrée
11 VII. Gigue
12 Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prélude (Transcribed for Guitar by John Williams)
13 Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009: Bourrée I & II (Transcribed for Guitar by John Williams) Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E-Flat Major, BWV 998
14 I. Präludium
15 II. Fuge
16 III. Allegro
DISC 4 - CD 1
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140: I. Chorale (Transcribed for Guitar and Organ)
2 Fugue in G Major, BWV 577 "Gigue" (Transcribed for Guitar and Organ)
3 Violin Sonata No. 4 in C Minor, BWV 1017: III. Adagio (Transcribed for Guitar and Organ)
Trio Sonata No. 6 in G Major, BWV 530 (Transcribed for Guitar and Organ)
4 I. Vivace
5 II. Lento
6 III. Allegro
7 Italian Concerto in F Major, BWV 971: I. - (Transcribed for Guitar and Organ)
8 Pastorale in F Major, BWV 590: III. Adagio (Transcribed for Guitar and Organ)
9 Trio Sonata No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1027 (Transcribed for Guitar and Organ)
10 French Suite No. 6 in E Major, BWV 817: I. Allemande (Transcribed for Guitar and Organ)
11 English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 807: VI. Bourrée II (Transcribed for Guitar and Organ)
12 English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808: Gavotte I & II (Transcribed for Guitar and Organ by John Williams)
13 French Suite No. 5 in G Major, BWV 816: VII. Gigue (Transcribed for Guitar and Organ by John Williams)
