Aleksander Debicz & Marcin Zdunik – Bach Stories (2017) [FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

Bach Stories explores a new way of thinking about classical music and improvisation; it presents historical music practice in a contemporary form. This double album from Warner Classics bears the fruits of a friendship and collaboration between two young but already much-awarded musicians. Aleksander Dębicz (piano) and Marcin Zdunik (cello) combine virtuosity and musical drama with the sheer joy and freshness of music-making in a unique programme of chamber works by Bach and improvisations inspired by those works.

These improvisations – in a classical style rather than jazz – create a bridge between two periods, bringing Bach’s music closer to the modern ear by using new means of expression. The ‘Stories’ evoked in the title could be a simple idea, a fleeting memory or a labyrinthine drama. “Bach’s music stirred and inspired our imagination, evoking both simple associations and complex narrative schemes”, explain the musicians.

Pianist Aleksander Dębicz, winner of the 2013 Transatlantyk Instant Composition Contest for improvising composer-musicians, made his Warner Classics debut with Cinematic Piano, an album of 12 of his own solo piano works inspired by film music. With Bach Stories, his first album in duo with Marcin Zdunik, this winner of numerous Bach competitions makes a powerful statement about the music of Johann Sebastian and its place in the modern world.

Marcin Zdunik is one of today’s leading young cellists and Warsaw Philharmonic artist-in-residence for the 2016/2017 season. It is also at the Warsaw Philharmonic that the Bach Stories recording sessions took place, and the acoustics of this magnificent concert hall served as additional inspiration for the musicians.

Tracklist

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

CD 1
1-4 Sonata in G Major BWV 1027
5 Chorale Jesus bleibet meine Freunde from the cantata BWV 147
6-9 Sonata in D Major BWV 1028
10 Aria Schafe können sicher weiden from the cantata BWV 208
11-13 Sonata in G Minor BWV 1029
14 Aria Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust from the cantata BWV 170

CD 2
Bach. Chorales. Improvisations
1 Improvisation I
2 Von Gott will ich nicht lassen BWV 658
3 Improvisation II
4 O Lamm Gottes unschuldig BWV 656a
5 Erbarm’ dich, o Herre Gott BWV 721
6 Improvisation III
7 Herr Gott, nun schleuss den Himmel auf BWV
8 Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g’mein BWV 734
9 Improvisation IV
10 Nun komm der Heiden Heiland BWV 659
11 Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend BWV
12 Improvisation V
13 Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme BWV 645
14 O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß BWV 622
15 Improvisation VI
16 Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ BWV 639