Online purchase or streaming (Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, Deezer, Google Play and more): https://brilliant-classics.lnk.to/BachSonatasPartitas Why transcribe and perform the sonatas and partitas for solo violin on the guitar? It is surely the works themselves that provide the justification; their indestructible melodic poetry and their rich implied counterpoint at which the original violin can only hint. Many guitarists have already gone where more cautious spirits would fear to tread and made their own transcriptions; this new version carries the imprimatur of David Russell, one of the most internationally acclaimed guitarists of his generation, who writes that Francesco Teopini ‘plays with a beautiful sound, faithfully recorded. His interpretation shows a deep understanding of these major works.’ In a useful booklet-note, Teopini himself notes that these works are now standard repertoire for guitarists, even mandatory for the sake of personal development, as perhaps Bach is for every musician regardless of instrument. His arrangement is relatively discreet, adding just a few more bass notes to amplify chords in movements such as the famous Chaconne which is the climax of the cycle. Elsewhere he has borne in mind the art of the clavecin, which no less relevant to the guitar as an instrument of Bach’s time than the original violin. There is naturally greater opportunity for ornamentation, which Teopini takes with discretion. Italian by birth, Teopini himself is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London, currently resident as a teacher and performer in Hong Kong, with a repertoire ranging from Bach through the Classical Spanish repertoire to contemporary works, several of which he has commissioned and premiered by composers including Gian Carlo Mantovani and Fausto Tuscano . 00:00:00 Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, BWV 1001: I. Adagio 00:05:14 Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, BWV 1001: II. Fuga 00:10:41 Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, BWV 1001: III. Siciliana 00:13:44 Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, BWV 1001: IV. Presto 00:17:36 Partita No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1002: I. Allemanda – Double 00:27:17 Partita No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1002: II. Corrente – Double 00:35:23 Partita No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1002: III. Sarabande – Double 00:42:10 Partita No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1002: IV. Tempo di borea – Double 00:49:37 Sonata No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 1003: I. Grave 00:55:07 Sonata No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 1003: II. Fuga 01:03:01 Sonata No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 1003: III. Andante 01:08:59 Sonata No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 1003: IV. Allegro 01:15:16 Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: I. Allemanda 01:21:18 Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: II. Corrente 01:23:43 Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: III. Sarabanda 01:28:28 Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: IV. Giga 01:32:37 Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: V. Ciaccona 01:50:59 Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005: I. Adagio 01:55:44 Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005: II. Fuga 02:08:04 Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005: III. Largo 02:11:21 Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005: IV. Allegro assai 02:16:30 Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006: I. Preludio 02:20:26 Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006: II. Loure 02:24:07 Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006: III. Gavotte en rondeau 02:27:40 Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006: IV. Menuet I et II 02:31:21 Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006: V. Bourrée 02:33:07 Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006: VI. Gigue Artist: Francesco (Teopini classical guitar)