From the darkest depths of Bach’s genius, to his bright depictions of hope and felicity breeds his masterpiece. As the master of the Baroque time period he paves way to pre-classical compositions and eventually will be the single most important inspiration for the Neoclassical movement. Never would he have imagined his music being resurrected over 400 years later, and furthermore being single handedly adapted to Mandolin. In the album "Bach", Avi Avital, mandolin virtuoso, gives us a breath of fresh air, and inspires the sounds of Bach in a new light, performing select Violin Concertos, Harpsichord Concertos, and Flute Sonatas, as he gracefully perfects the mandolin in what is widely thought of within the musical community the hardest of all musical art forms… Baroque music. In one of Bach’s more famous pieces, Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor BWV 1041, he brilliantly reinvents the piece by keeping the orchestra accompaniment, but performs it at a crisp vivace tempo versus the traditional allegro. He flawlessly floats through all of Bach’s expressionism with astonishing technical proficiency. In his Concerto for Harpsichord, Strings, and Continuo No. 5 in F minor, BWV 1056, he beautifully expresses the largo feel in what almost resembles a lullaby. The strings at the beginning of the piece are doing a pizzicato, rhythmic ostinato, while Avital plays a nice mezzo-piano melodic structure on top, and then finally the rest of the String section comes in with a forceful, yet mischievous entrance, reminiscing upon the nostalgic, internal struggle of the time period, never really resolving in a full cadence, but rather a half. Could this be the future of modern day classical music, a recreation of traditional music with non-traditional instruments? Anyhow, I give this Album an 8 out of 10, for Baroque music lovers. I wonder what generation of music he will cover next?!
- Ty
Buy The Album (Digital):
Amazon (Cheaper than iTunes and let's face it, quality may even be better): http://www.amazon.com/Bach-digital-booklet/dp/B0089H3IKA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1339493042&sr=8-5
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bach/id531775961
Tracklist:
1. Concerto for Harpsichord, Strings, and Continuo No.1 in D minor, BWV 1052 - adapted for Mandolin and Orchestra by Avi Avital - 1. Allegro
2. Concerto for Harpsichord, Strings, and Continuo No.1 in D minor, BWV 1052 - adapted for Mandolin and Orchestra by Avi Avital - 2. Adagio
3. Concerto for Harpsichord, Strings, and Continuo No.1 in D minor, BWV 1052 - adapted for Mandolin and Orchestra by Avi Avital - 3. Allegro
4. Concerto for Harpsichord, Strings, and Continuo No.5 in F minor, BWV 1056 - adapted for Mandolin and Orchestra by Avi Avital - 1. (Allegro)
5. Concerto for Harpsichord, Strings, and Continuo No.5 in F minor, BWV 1056 - adapted for Mandolin and Orchestra by Avi Avital - 2. Largo
6. Concerto for Harpsichord, Strings, and Continuo No.5 in F minor, BWV 1056 - adapted for Mandolin and Orchestra by Avi Avital - 3. Presto
7. Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor, BWV 1041 - adapted for Mandolin and Orchestra by Avi Avital - 1. (Allegro moderato)
8. Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor, BWV 1041 - adapted for Mandolin and Orchestra by Avi Avital - 2. Andante
9. Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor, BWV 1041 - adapted for Mandolin and Orchestra by Avi Avital - 3. Allegro Assai
10. Sonata for Flute or Violin No.5 in E minor, BWV 1034 - adapted for Mandolin and Continuo by Avi Avital - 1. Adagio ma non troppo
11. Sonata for Flute or Violin No.5 in E minor, BWV 1034 - adapted for Mandolin and Continuo by Avi Avital - 2. Allegro
12. Sonata for Flute or Violin No.5 in E minor, BWV 1034 - adapted for Mandolin and Continuo by Avi Avital - 3. Andante
13. Sonata for Flute or Violin No.5 in E minor, BWV 1034 - adapted for Mandolin and Continuo by Avi Avital - 4. Allegro
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