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Johann Sebastian Bach
(1685 - 1750)
Bach is considered by many to have been the greatest composer in the history of western music. Bach's main achievement lies in his synthesis and advanced development of the primary contrapuntal idiom of the late Baroque, and in the basic tunefullness of his thematic material. He was able to successfully integrate and expand upon the harmonic and formal frameworks of the national schools of the time: German, French, Italian and English, while retaining a personal identity and spirit in his large output. Bach is also known for the numerical symbolism and mathematical exactitude which many people have found in his music – for this, he is often regarded as one of the pinnacle geniuses of western civilization, even by those who are not normally involved with music.
Bach spent the height of his working life in a Lutheran church position in Leipzig, as both organist and music director. Much of his music is overtly religious, while many of his secular works admit religious interpretations on some levels. His large output of organ music is considered to be the greatest legacy of compositions for the instrument, and is the measure by which all later efforts are judged. His other solo keyboard music is held in equally high esteem, especially for its exploration of the strictly contrapuntal fugue; his 48 Preludes and Fugues (The Well-Tempered Clavier) are still the primary means by which these forms are taught. His other chamber music is similarly lofty, the sets for solo violin and solo cello being the summits of their respective genres. Bach's large-scale sacred choral music is also unique in its scope and development, the Passions and B Minor Mass having led to the rediscovery of his music in the 19th century. His huge output of cantatas for all occasions is equally impressive. Finally, his large output of concerti includes some of the finest examples of the period, including the ubiquitous Brandenberg Concertos. ~ Todd McComb (6/94)
Art of the Fugue
- "The Art Of Fugue", BWV 1080/Harmonia Mundi HMX29011690
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Davitt Moroney (harpsichord)
- "The Art Of Fugue", BWV 1080 (Early Version)/Archiv 427673-2
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Kenneth Gilbert (harpsichord)
- "The Art Of Fugue", BWV 1080/Archiv 447293-2
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Reinhard Goebel/Musica Antiqua Köln
- "The Art Of Fugue", BWV 1080; Musical Offering, BWV 1079/Philips Duo 442556-2
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Neville Marriner/Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
- "The Art Of Fugue", BWV 1080 (String Quartet Version)/Deutsche Grammophon 474495-2
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Emerson String Quartet
Brandenburg Concertos
- 6 "Brandenburg" Concertos, BWV 1046-1051 (w/ Suites)/Archiv 423492-2
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Trevor Pinnock/The English Concert
- 6 "Brandenburg" Concertos, BWV 1046-1051/Archiv 423116-2
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Reinhard Goebel/Musica Antiqua Köln
- 6 "Brandenburg" Concertos, BWV 1046-1051/Philips Duo 468549-2
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Henryk Szeryng (violin), Gidon Kremer (violin), Heinz Holliger (oboe), Michala Petri (recorder), Jean-Pierre Rampal (flute), Neville Marriner/Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
- 6 "Brandenburg" Concertos, BWV 1046a, 1047-1049, 1050a, 1051/Delos DEL3185
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Ransom Wilson (flute), Mark Hill (oboe), Joseph Silverstein (violin), Paul Neubauer (viola), Edgar Meyer (bass), William Purvis (horn), Milan Turkovic (bassoon), John Gibbons/Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
- 6 "Brandenburg" Concertos, BWV 1046a, 1047-1049, 1050a, 1051/L'Oiseau-Lyre 414187-2
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Christopher Hogwood/Academy of Ancient Music
- 6 "Brandenburg" Concertos, BWV 1046-1051 (w/ Suites)/RCA Eurodisc 69219-2-RV
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Josef Suk (violin), Max Lesueur (viola), Maurice Bourgue (oboe), Aurèle Nicolet (flute), Manfred Sax (bassoon), Rudolf Baumgartner/Lucerne Festival Strings
Cantatas (BWV 4, 78, 82, 140, 202)
- Cantatas #1-4, BWV 1-4/Teldec 2292-42497-2
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Esswood, Equiluz, Egmond, Nicholas Harnoncourt/Vienna Concentus Musicus & Boy's Choir
- Cantatas #78 & 198, BWV 78 & 198/Harmonia Mundi HMC901270
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Philippe Herreweghe/La Chapelle Royale Orchestra & Chorus
- Cantatas #82, 152 & 202, BWV 82, 152 & 202/Ricercar RIC061041
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Greta de Reyghere (soprano), Max van Egmond (bass)/Ricercar Consort
- Cantatas #8, 51, 78, 80, 140 & 147, BWV 8, 51, 78, 80, 140 & 147/L'Oiseau Lyre - Double Decca 455706-2
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Julianne Baird (soprano), Joshua Rifkin/Bach Ensemble
- Cantatas #140, 56 & 159, BWV 140, 56 & Anh. 159/Dorian DOR-90127
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Schellenberg, Gordon, Lichti, Funfgeld/Bach Choir of Bethlehem, Bach Festival Orchestra
- Cantatas #211 "Coffee" & 212 "Peasant", BWV 211 & 212/L'Oiseau-Lyre 417621-2
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Emma Kirkby, Rogers Covey-Crump, David Thomas, Christopher Hogwood/Academy of Ancient Music
- Cantatas #202, 209, 211 & 212, BWV 202, 209, 211 & 212/RCA Deutsche Harmonia Mundi Editio Classica 77151-2-RG
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Elly Ameling, Gerald English, Siegmund Nimsgern/Collegium Aureum
Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue for Harpsichord
- Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue, BWV 903/L'Oiseau-Lyre - Decca 476170-2
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Christophe Rousset (harpsichord)
- Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue, BWV 903/Arabesque Z6577
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Igor Kipnis (harpsichord)
- Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue, BWV 903/Hyperion CDA66746
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Angela Hewitt (piano)
- Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue, BWV 903/Philips 442400-2
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Alfred Brendel (piano)
- Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue, BWV 903/Supraphon 110359-2
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Ivan Moravec (piano)
Concertos for Harpsichord(s) (BWV 1052, 1056)
- 9 Concertos, BWV 1052-1059/Sony Essential Classics SB2K53243
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Igor Kipnis (harpsichord), Sir Neville Marriner/London String Players
- 3 Concertos, BWV 1052-1054/Archiv 415991-2
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Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord)/The English Concert
- 4 Concertos, BWV 1055-1058/Archiv 415992-2
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Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord)/The English Concert
- 7 Concertos, BWV 1052-1058/London 425676-2
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András Schiff (piano)/Chamber Orchestra of Europe
- 6 Concertos, BWV 1052-1056, 1058/Sony S2K52591
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Glenn Gould (piano), Leonard Bernstein, Vladimir Golschmann/New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Concertos for Violin & 2 Violins
- 2 Concertos for Violin, BWV 1041 & 1042; Concerto for 2 Violins, BWV 1043/L'Oiseau-Lyre - Decca 400080-2
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Jaap Schröder & Christopher Hirons (violins), Christopher Hogwood/Academy Of Ancient Music
- 2 Concertos for Violin, BWV 1041 & 1042; Concerto for 2 Violins, BWV 1043/EMI CDC747005-2
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Anne-Sophie Mutter & Salvatore Accardo (violins)/English Chamber Orchestra
- 2 Concertos for Violin, BWV 1041 & 1042; Concerto for 2 Violins, BWV 1043/Archiv 410646-2
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Simon Standage & Elisabeth Wilcock (violins), Trevor Pinnock/The English Concert
Fantasia & Fugue in G minor for Organ
- Fantasia & Fugue in G minor, BWV 542/Telarc CD-80049
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Michael Murray (organ)
- Fantasia & Fugue in G minor, BWV 542/Deutsche Grammophon 469616-2
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Karl Richter (organ)
- Fantasia & Fugue in G minor, BWV 542/Alba SACD ABCD209
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Kari Vuola (organ)
Goldberg Variations for Harpsichord
- "Goldberg" Variations, BWV 988/Harmonia Mundi HMA1951240
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Kenneth Gilbert (harpsichord)
- "Goldberg" Variations, BWV 988/London 417116-2
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András Schiff (piano)
- "Goldberg" Variations, BWV 988/Kontrapunkt 32023
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Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord)
- "Goldberg" Variations, BWV 988/Sony SMK52594
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Glenn Gould (piano)
- "Goldberg" Variations, BWV 988/Denon 8175736772
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Huguette Dreyfus (harpsichord)
- "Goldberg" Variations, BWV 988/Sony SK89243 or SACD SS89243
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Murray Perahia (piano)
Amazon UK - Germany - France - Japan - ArkivMusic
or on SACD SS89243
Amazon - UK - Germany - Canada - France - Japan - ArkivMusic
Inventions for Harpsichord
See Resources section above for Audio
- 30 Two- & Three-Part Inventions, BWV 772-801/Archiv 415112-2
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Kenneth Gilbert (harpsichord)
- 30 Two- & Three-Part Inventions, BWV 772-801/Sony SBK61869
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Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord)
- 30 Two- & Three-Part Inventions, BWV 772-801/London 411974-2
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András Schiff (piano)
- 30 Two- & Three-Part Inventions, BWV 772-801/Hyperion CDA66746
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Angela Hewitt (piano)
Italian Concerto for Harpsichord
- "Italian" Concerto in F Major, BWV 971/Reference Recordings RR-51CD
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Albert Fuller (harpsichord)
- "Italian" Concerto in F Major, BWV 971/Philips 412252-2
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Alfred Brendel (piano)
- "Italian" Concerto in F Major, BWV 971/Archiv Trio 474337-2
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Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord)
- "Italian" Concerto in F Major, BWV 971/Nimbus NIM5080
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Vlado Perlemuter (piano)
Magnificat
- Magnificat, BWV 243 with Cantata BWV 51/Philips 411458-2
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John Eliot Gardiner/Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists
Amazon - Germany - Canada - France - Japan - ArkivMusic - CD Universe
or
Amazon - UK - Germany - Canada - France - Japan - ArkivMusic - Magnificat, BWV 243 with Cantata BWV 80/Harmonia Mundi HMU3001326
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Philippe Herreweghe/Collegium Vocale, La Chapelle Royale Orchestra
- Magnificat, Wq. 215 with Magnificat BWV 243 by J.S. Bach/Newport Classics 60155
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Patricia Green (mezzo Soprano), Mary Ellen Callahan (soprano), James Weaver (bass), Nils Brown (tenor), J. Reilly Lewis/Washington Bach Consort
- Magnificat, BWV 243 (w/ Vivaldi Gloria)/Chandos Chaconne CHAN0518
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Emma Kirkby & Tessa Bonner (soprano), Michael Chance (countertenor), John Mark Ainsley (tenor), Richard Hickox/Collegium Musicum 90
Mass in B minor
- Mass in B minor, BWV 232/Deutsche Grammophon Archiv 415514-2
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Lynne Dawson, Nancy Argenta, Jean Knibbs, Mary Nichols, Stephen Varcoe, Michael Chance, John Eliot Gardiner/English Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Choir
- Mass in B minor, BWV 232/Virgin Veritas VBD5619982 or VMD5613372
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Emily van Evera, Panito Iconomou, Rogers Covey-Crump, David Thomas, Emma Kirkby, Andrew Parrott/Taverner Consort, Choir & Players
- Mass in B minor, BWV 232/EMI Studio CMS763364-2
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Agnes Giebel, Dame Janet Baker, Nicolai Gedda, Hermann Prey, Franz Crass, Otto Klemperer/New Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Symphony Chorus
- Mass in B minor, BWV 232/EMI Double Forte CZS568640-2
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Brigitte Fassbaender, Claes H. Ahnsjö, Roland Hermann, Robert Holl, Helen Donath, Eugen Jochum/Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Musical Offering
- "Musical Offering", BWV 1079/RCA Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 05472-77307-2
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Barthold Kuijken (flute), Sigiswald Kuijken (violin), Wieland Kuijken (cello), Robert Kohnen (harpsichord)
- "Musical Offering", BWV 1079/Deutsche Grammophon Eloquence 469680-2
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Reinhard Goebel/Musica Antiqua Köln
- "Musical Offering", BWV 1079/Harmonia Mundi HMA1951260
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Davitt Moroney (harpsichord), Janet See (flute), John Holloway (violin), Jaap ter Linden (cello), Martha Cook (harpsichord)
Organ Music Collection
- The Great Organ at Methuen/Telarc CD-80049
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Michael Murray (organ)
- Toccatas, Fantasias, Fugues, Chorale Preludes, etc./Harmonia Mundi HMX290772.83
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Lionel Rogg (organ)
- Preludes & Fugues and Toccatas & Fugues/Double Decca 443485-2
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Peter Hurford (organ)
- Choral Preludes/Erato 2292-45702-2
- Marie-Claire Alain (organ)
- Complete Organ Music (12CDs)/Deutsche Grammophon Arkiv 463712-2
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Helmut Walcha (organ)
- Complete Organ Music (14CDs)/Erato 4509-96358-2
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Marie-Claire Alain (organ)
- Complete Organ Music (17CDs)/Decca 444410-2
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Peter Hurford (organ)
Partitas for Harpsichord
- 6 Partitas, BWV 825-830/Archiv Trio 474337-2
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Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord)
- 6 Partitas, BWV 825-830/Virgin Veritas 562337-2
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Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord)
- 6 Partitas, BWV 825-830/London 411732-2
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András Schiff (piano)
Passacaglia & Fugue in C minor for Organ
- Passacaille & Fugue in C minor, BWV 582/London - Double Decca 443485-2
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Peter Hurford (organ)
- Passacaille & Fugue in C minor, BWV 582/Telarc CD-80049
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Michael Murray (organ)
- Passacaille & Fugue in C minor, BWV 582/Philips Concert Classics 422965-2
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Daniel Chorzempa (organ)
St. Matthew Passion
- Passion According to St. Matthew, BWV 244/Harmonia Mundi HMC951676/78
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Ian Bostridge (tenor), Franz-Joseph Selig (bass), Sibylla Rubens (soprano), Werner Güra (tenor), Dietrich Henschel (tenor), Andreas Scholl (countertenor), Philippe Herreweghe/Collegium Vocale & La Chapelle Royale Orchestra
- Passion According to St. Matthew, BWV 244/Deutsche Grammophon Archiv 427648-2
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Barbara Bonney (soprano), Ann Monoyios (soprano), Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo soprano), Michael Chance (countertenor), Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor), Andreas Schmidt (baritone), Sir John Eliot Gardiner/Monteverdi Choir & English Baroque Soloists
- Passion According to St. Matthew, BWV 244/EMI CMS567538-2
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Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano), Christa Ludwig (alto), Sir Peter Pears (tenor), Nicolai Gedda (tenor), Hampstead Parish Church Boys' Choir, Otto Klemperer/Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra
- Passion According to St. Matthew, BWV 244/Naxos Historical 8.11088082
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Jo Vincent (soprano), Ilona Durigo (alto), Karl Erb (tenor), Louis Van Tulder (tenor), Hermann Schey (baritone), Willem Mengelberg/Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra & Amsterdam Toonkunst Chorus
Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin
- 6 Sonatas & Partitas, BWV 1001-1006/RCA Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 05472-77527-2
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Sigiswald Kuijken (violin)
- 6 Sonatas & Partitas, BWV 1001-1006/EMI CDS7494832
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Itzhak Perlman (violin)
- 6 Sonatas & Partitas, BWV 1001-1006/Philips Duo 438736-2
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Arthur Grumiaux (violin)
Sonatas & Partita for Flute & Continuo
- 5 Sonatas, BWV 1013, 1030 & 1033-1035; Partita, BWV 1013/Channel Classics CCS15798
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Ashley Solomon (flute), Terence Charlston (harpsichord)
- 3 Sonatas, BWV 1020, 1031 & 1032; Trio Sonatas BWV 583, 584, 586 & 1039/Channel Classics CCS18498
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Ashley Solomon (flute), Terence Charlston (harpsichord)
- 3 Sonatas, BWV 1020, 1031 & 1033; Partita, BWV 1013/Philips 422061-2
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Irena Grafenauer (flute), Maria Graf (harp), David Geringas (cello)
- 4 Sonatas, BWV 1030, 1032, 1034 & 1035/Denon 33C37-7331
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Aurèle Nicolet (flute), Christiane Jaccottet (harpsichord), Mari Fujiwara (cello)
- 7 Sonatas, BWV 1030-1035 & 1020; Partita, BWV 1013/Harmonia Mundi HCX3907024/25
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Janet See (flute), Davitt Moroney (harpsichord), Mary Springfels (viola da gamba)
Suites for Solo Cello
- 6 Suites, BWV 1007-1012/Sony Vivarte S2K48047 or Essential Classics SBK61811 & SBK61812
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Anner Bylsma (cello)
- 6 Suites, BWV 1007-1012/Deutsche Grammophon Originals 449711-2
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Pierre Fournier (cello)
- 6 Suites, BWV 1007-1012; Sonatas, BWV 1027 & 1028/Mercury Living Presence 432756-2 or SACD 470644-2
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János Starker (cello)
Amazon - Germany - Canada - France - Japan - ArkivMusic
or Hybrid SACD
Amazon - Amazon UK - Germany - Canada - France - Japan - ArkivMusic - CD Universe - 6 Suites, BWV 1007-1012/EMI Classics 55363
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Mstislav Rostropovich (cello)
- 6 Suites, BWV 1007-1012/EMI Great Recordings Of The Century 62617
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Pablo Casals (cello)
- 6 Suites, BWV 1007-1012/Naxos
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Pablo Casals (cello)
Suites for Harpsichord (English & French)
- 6 "English" Suites, BWV 806-811/Harmonia Mundi HMC901074.75
- Kenneth Gilbert (harpsichord)
- 6 "English" Suites, BWV 806-811/Virgin Veritas 561157-2 or 562158-2
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Gustav Leonhardt
- 6 "English" Suites, BWV 806-811/London 421640-2
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András Schiff (piano)
- 6 "French" Suites, BWV 812-817/Virgin Classics VBD561653-2
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Davitt Moroney (harpsichord)