Bach: Complete English Suites Sophie Yates

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750): Suite I, BWV 806:
• 1 Bach: Suite I, BWV 806: I. Prelude 02:51
• 2 Bach: Suite I, BWV 806: II. Allemande 06:28
• 3 Bach: Suite I, BWV 806: III. Courante I 01:58
• 4 Bach: Suite I, BWV 806: IV. Courante II avec deux Doubles 03:42
• 5 Bach: Suite I, BWV 806: V. Sarabande 04:27
• 6 Bach: Suite I, BWV 806: VI. Bourrée I - Bourrée II - (Bourrée I repetatur et claudatur) 05:08
• 7 Bach: Suite I, BWV 806: VII. Gigue 03:12
• Suite II, BWV 807:
• 8 Bach: Suite II, BWV 807: I. Prelude 05:08
• 9 Bach: Suite II, BWV 807: II. Allemande 04:51
• 10 Bach: Suite II, BWV 807: III. Courante 02:05
• 11 Bach: Suite II, BWV 807: IV. Sarabande - Les agréments de la même Sarabande 04:02
• 12 Bach: Suite II, BWV 807: V. Bourrée I alternativement - Bourrée II - 05:19
• 13 Bach: Suite II, BWV 807: VI. Gigue - Da Capo (senza ripetizione) al Fine 03:48
• Suite III, BWV 808:
• 14 Bach: Suite III, BWV 808: I. Prelude 03:25
• 15 Bach: Suite III, BWV 808: II. Allemande 04:37
• 16 Bach: Suite III, BWV 808: III. Courante 02:40
• 17 Bach: Suite III, BWV 808: IV. Sarabande - Les agréments de la même Sarabande 03:46
• 18 Bach: Suite III, BWV 808: V. Gavotte alternativement - Gavotte II ou la Musette 03:39
• 19 Bach: Suite III, BWV 808: VI. Gigue 03:05
• Suite IV, BWV 809:
• 20 Bach: Suite IV, BWV 809: I. Prelude. Vitement 05:06
• 21 Bach: Suite IV, BWV 809: II. Allemande 04:19
• 22 Bach: Suite IV, BWV 809: III. Courante 01:52
• 23 Bach: Suite IV, BWV 809: IV. Sarabande 04:03
• 24 Bach: Suite IV, BWV 809: V. Menuet I - Menuet II - Repetatur Menuet I 03:52
• 25 Bach: Suite IV, BWV 809: VI. Gigue 03:46
• Suite V, BWV 810:
• 26 Bach: Suite V, BWV 810: I. Prelude 05:06
• 27 Bach: Suite V, BWV 810: II. Allemande 04:48
• 28 Bach: Suite V, BWV 810: III. Courante 02:24
• 29 Bach: Suite V, BWV 810: IV. Sarabande 03:56
• 30 Bach: Suite V, BWV 810: V. Passepied I en Rondeau - Passepied II 03:54
• 31 Bach: Suite V, BWV 810: VI. Gigue 03:17
• Suite VI, BWV 811:
• 32 Bach: Suite VI, BWV 811: I. Prelude 09:05
• 33 Bach: Suite VI, BWV 811: II. Allemande 04:49
• 34 Bach: Suite VI, BWV 811: III. Courante 02:59
• 35 Bach: Suite VI, BWV 811: IV. Sarabande - Double 03:45
• 36 Bach: Suite VI, BWV 811: V. Gavotte I - Gavotte II - Repetatur Gavotte I 04:10
• 37 Bach: Suite VI, BWV 811: VI. Gigue 03:36
• Total Runtime 02:28:58

Info for Bach: Complete English Suites

There is no surviving autograph manuscript of Bach’s ‘English’ Suites, and for such a set of magnificent pieces, an important and well-loved part of the baroque keyboard ‘canon’, surprisingly little is known about its history. What we do know is that the suites are amongst Bach’s earlier works – probably written in the second decade of the eighteenth century – and that the appellation ‘English’ was not given to them until the 1750s.

In order to understand these fascinating works on a deeper level, we have to appreciate the importance of dance in the cultural context of eighteenth-century Europe. As a social skill, the ability to dance correctly was considered so vital that every court had a Dancing Master, often French, who taught the different types of dances to aspiring courtiers. Because of this, dancing, and by extension the instrumental dance suite, was one of the factors contributing to French taste’s becoming a defining characteristic of the baroque style. As we know that the Dancing Master traditionally taught by playing tunes on the violin, it is quite possible that Bach’s own renditions of the dance forms were influenced by the playing of Jean-François Monjou – Dancing Master at the Cöthen court, where the young Johann Sebastian worked from 1717 until 1723. On that basis, acclaimed early keyboard specialist Sophie Yates has recorded these works on a double-manual Flemish harpsichord by Andrew Garlick, a copy of the petit ravalement instrument by Ioannes Ruckers, 1624, now at the Musée Unterlinden, Colmar, France.

Sophie Yates, harpsichord

Sophie Yates
began her career by winning the international Erwin Bodky competion at the Boston Early Music Festival. As a result she was invited to tour and broadcast throughout the eastern states of America. She now performs regularly around Europe, the United States and Japan.

Sophie is probably best know for her affinity with English and French music. She particularly enjoys playing antique instruments and has performed on most of the playable virginals surviving in Britain. She is also working on a long-term project to collect a book of contemporary English pieces for this instrument. In addition to her work as a soloist she performs with actors and plays in a variety of duo ensembles that explore everything from Bach's violin sonatas to contemporary works for harpsichord and piano.

What the reviews say ... "Sophie Yates plays with exceptional poise - ornaments are impeccably measured and fast figurations are technically flawless, yet such polish doesn't mask expressiveness. She draws out every emotional nuance ...". BBC Music Magazine.

Booklet for Bach: Complete English Suites