Cover design by Jesús Llungueras
“SUITES. A tribute to Bach’s Cello Suites” is the result of a period of six years (2017-2023) taking this music to the stage. I thought that this recording would also be the best way to pay tribute to Johann-Sebastian Bach and his solo cello Suites.
Although during my solo career I have been focused on the original new music repertoire for baritone saxophone, I had always had the idea of performing some of these suites in concert.
Coinciding with the 300th anniversary of their composition, when Johann-Sebastian Bach was court composer to Prince Leopold and conductor in Cöthen, I created “Suites”, a project combining original Baroque music for cello and original contemporary music for baritone saxophone. Following the success of this proposal, I decided to play Bach in other projects and formats.
The idea of playing and recording Bach was a big personal and artistic challenge to test how far I could go outside my usual repertoire. I had to work in a very different mental plane in order to get as close as possible to that special sonority of the historical cello in addition to the organic and intense performances of great historicist musicians (as Dutch cellist Anner Bylsma).
When playing Bach, I have always proposed to let the audience find more affinities than differences with the cello. Due to its extraordinary versatility, the baritone saxophone can play contemporary music (listen to the “bonus track”) or jazz but also Baroque/classical.
Finally, I would thank a lot to sound engineer Sixto Cámara Moya for his precise and precious listening; designer Jesús Llungueras for his brilliant ideas, and Pep Solórzano, for all the facilities provided to record at Auditori Josep Carreras in Vilaseca (Tarragona). Also to Hubert Haas, the executive producer of Solo Musica label, for trusting this recording project.
From next Friday 19 May, you will be able to listen to it on all online music platforms. Please, go to my Spotify account and enjoy!
Joan Martí-Frasquier
Barcelona, May 2023
