John Williams Plays Bach - 4 CDs (Sony Classical Masters)

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)