Grammy Award-winning classical guitarist Jason Vieaux releases Bach: Volume 2: Works for Violin on Azica Records. A follow up to his critically acclaimed 2009 Azica album, Bach Volume 1: Works for Lute, Volume 2 completes Vieaux’s Bach cycle with J. S. Bach’s 'Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006', which is both the 'Violin Partita No. 3' and 'Lute Suite No. 4'; 'Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005'; and 'Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001'...

Fans of classical guitar will find much to applaud on Jason Vieaux's latest release: Bach: Volume 2: Works for Violin.

Talking about the release, Vieaux says: “It’s been well over a decade since the 2009 issue of three lute works of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Bach Vol. 1, Works For Lute, was out on Azica. The idea Azica and I had back then was that there would eventually be a Volume 2, which would complete the ‘lute’ set by making a ‘violin’ record that included 'BWV 1006'… one of the great things about Bach’s music is that it’s always just there, for us to continually explore. His music doesn’t need anything. It is not only comforting and inspiring in its musical greatness, it’s humbling in how his notes, phrases, structures, compositional decisions, harmonic details, etc, are seemingly all-knowing (divine) and expressive (mortal) all at once, which is always a great respite in such a turbulent world."

The performances are flawless, vividly capturing the emotion of the pieces. It's interesting to hear how different they feel just by changing the performance instrument. Scholars of Bach's will find this interesting. I know it gave me a newfound respect for the works.

Track listing:

Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006 (Lute Suite No. 4)
01. Preludio
02. Loure
03. Gavotte en Rondeau
04. Menuett I
05. Menuett II
06. Bourrée
07. Gigue

Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005
08. Adagio
09. Fuga
10. Largo
11. Allegro assai

Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001
12. Adagio
13. Fuga: Allegro
14. Siciliana
15. Presto

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Darren Rea