BACH
6
project
Dear friends,
It is with great joy that I share with you the news of my upcoming 3rd solo album, planned for 8-12 January 2024.
My idea had always been to record a second double-disk volume of this Bach project, containing other pieces that I already was interested in back in 2020. This new project has been maturing with me for over a year now as I have reflected on the program and traversed many time zones and continents with this music.
After the tremendous reception for the last Bach recording, and the numerous performances I have been able to give of this music since then, I would like to continue on this adventure with these pieces that are truly at the heart of my musical existence.
6
This second Bach double-disk is centered around the number 6 – a figure that Bach himself was clearly attached to, as most of the collections of suites and sonatas that he wrote contain groups of six. The Well-Tempered Clavier itself has 24 preludes and fugues, as the chromatic scale itself has 12 tones. All these multiples of 3 had high significance for Bach, both from a religious and symbolic perspective.
I want to present the 6th suite from both the Partitas and the English Suites – two monumentally complex and long final statements at the end of their respective collections. While the English Suite is from Bach’s youth, and does not yet have the mature and concise expression of the Partita, all of Bach’s gifts for synthesizing styles and influences are already present in his incredibly personal language.
From there to the Partita 6 is a jump of roughly ten years and the public declaration of a composer whose mastery of keyboard writing is fully formed. Even amongst the partitas – two of which I recorded for the last album – the sixth one is a work of unique proportions, combining mastery of counterpoint, antiquated symbolism, dance forms and perhaps even fragments of material found in the Passions.
To bring these two suites together, I have chosen 6 preludes and fugues from Well-Tempered Clavier II, the latest compositions that feature on this recital. Once again, choosing to step away from a complete set, I wanted to create a program that was particularly suited to recording. Set as the centerpiece of this double-album, these genius miniature forms have a chance to thrive as microcosms of their own.
Inspired by Bach’s own liberty with modulation, I will move from the suite in d minor to the partita in e minor using enharmonic relations: 3 preludes and fugues in flat keys, and an enharmonic shift from A flat to G sharp for the 3 sets in sharp keys.
As ever, I seek to develop programs that are both a hand-picked sampling of the music I love most and an experience that will allow the listener the freedom to experience these monumental works at their own pace and in their own way.
The recording will be released in late 2024/early 2025 for a label that I will share details about soon!
recording
Thanks to your support for my last recording and the exposure it received, I am lucky enough to now have the support of the independent producer Pierre-Yves Lascar, who will be providing funds for the recording process and instrument tuning for this third project. I will be making this album in the company of the irreplaceable sound engineer and my dear trusted friend Aline Blondiau, and with the technical support of the fantastic and indispensable tuner Julien Bailly. We will be returning to the wonderful space of the Doopsgezinde Kerk in Haarlem where we made the last album.
However due to inflation in Europe over the last three years, the budget for the use of the recording space for five days in Haarlem has increased by 30% and requires us to reach out and ask for your support as well. While this space is costly, it is also a central element of my recording life and insures tremendous sound quality and both reliability and efficiency, which are critical to a smooth recording process.
We are seeking to raise €7000 to cover rental of the space and video production to document the recording process.
Any and all donations will be appreciated and gifts over a certain amount will be additionally rewarded.
budget
Church rental: €4500
Video production: €2000
Lodging costs : €500
contribute
I appreciate any and all contributions you can make to this beautiful project.
€1000 admission into the circle of major donors in the booklet and on my website + signed copies of all recordings and complimentary tickets to any concert I might give in your region.
€500: acknowledgment in CD booklet + signed copies of all three solo albums
€250: signed copies of all three solo albums
€100: postcard + signed copy of 6
€50: postcard
Email: lillian.gordis@gmail.com
IBAN: FR76 3000 4007 8200 0006 5445 864
BIC: BNPAFRPPBBT
Motive: Gift
