Tag: new release

on

Second part of the exploration of the keyboard works of J. S. Bach (1685-1750) by the Luxembourger Francesco Tristano, this recording dedicated to the set of six English Suites (BWV 806-811, composed in the 1710s) celebrates the Dionysian power of Bach’s universe, through a sometimes dizzying playing style.

After the first instalment, published in November 2024 (6 Partitas, naïve V8619), of the exploration of the music of J. S. Bach (1685-1750) that the Luxembourg pianist Francesco Tristano has been undertaking for the last three years, naïve is now publishing the six English Suites (BWV 806-811). Recorded in December 2022, they actually constitute the starting point of this project, which will continue in a few months with the seven Toccatas (autumn 2025) and the six French Suites (2026). This double album offers a new series of magnificent photographs by Breno Rotatori: nocturnal hues, midnight blue and vermilion yellow, now replace the lively blood-red-orange of the Partitas.

Despite their title, the six English Suites reveal no trace of keyboard music by British musicians who predated Bach, such as Orlando Gibbons, William Byrd or John Bull. A handwritten copy owned by Johann Christian Bach (1732–1795) bears the note “made for the English”, a note that was taken up in 1802 by his father’s first biographer, Johann Nikolaus Forkel. These works probably date, in their very first version, from the years 1713-1714: J. S. Bach, approaching his thirties, was then officiating at the chapel of the Duke of Saxe-Weimar, and more likely intended them for his students, who, over the course of the set, were thus introduced to the genre of the French suite. A great connoisseur of French masters (Couperin, Marchand, Dieupart, etc.), the German composer tackles for the first time one of the main musical forms in the Europe of his time, governed by the succession of popularly inspired, stylised dances. He takes up the usual allemande, courante, sarabande and gigue (with ornamentations written in the double or agréments), and creates a surprise by choosing in the penultimate place – depending on the suite – bourrées, gavottes, minuets or passepieds, and by introducing each of his six Suites with a Prelude of bewilderingly vast proportions.

For Francesco Tristano, Bach is a master of the groove, his writing has flow. The pianist’s modus operandi? Immerse yourself in it as you dive into deep water: you breathe in, and you only breathe out when you come back up. A few months ago, the Partitas were already surprising in their lively lightness. Today, these English Suites, even more sprightly, sometimes to the point of vertigo in the Preludes (Suites BWV 809 and BWV 810!) or certain rapid dances (Gavotte from BWV 811, Bourrée from BWV 807), celebrate the Dionysian power of Bach’s universe, incontestably inexhaustible.

Play it here

francesco tristano english suites naive

on
“On Early Music is not only a tribute to the early music repertoire, to which he returns regularly. In his transgressive way, he brings a touch of freshness. Modernity, love and energy: these are the words that fit well with the set assembled here.” — Le Quotidien
 
“A very enjoyable and inspiring keyboard affair, fluffy, rhythmic, dancing and full of energy. And with the other main theme of the album — the motif of the sunrise — an innovative and light-filled work full of beauty and optimism.” — FAZE
 

on

 

on early music

“On Early Music”, pianist Francesco Tristano’s third release with Sony Classical is out.

Interspersed with his original compositions are works by some of early music’s greatest English composers and organists – Orlando Gibbons, John Bull, and Peter Philips – and one of Tristano’s greatest inspirations, Italian composer Girolamo Frescobaldi. Yet, “On Early Music” is not merely a fitting homage to this repertoire; the works are given a fresh, contemporary twist thanks to Tristano’s production skills, studio mastery, and keen eye for detail. 

 “I wanted works by English composers, some of whom I’ve played for a long time and love, but I also wanted to continue exploring the repertoire of Frescobaldi,” he says. “He really changed the way composers wrote for keyboards.” Inspired by these greats, and their enduring works, the music he wrote for On Early Music bursts with vitality and spark.  All the works featured are tonally and melodically complimentary, and while some have been faithfully reproduced, others have been re-worked and reinterpreted. “I wanted to bring something new to them,” he says. “Something original.” That led him to works that reflected another of the album’s main themes, and something he wanted to focus on and bring to the fore – the gentle majesty of sunrise. “The magic hour is very short, but the energy unleashed is unique,” he says. “This moment is often paralleled in scores of early music – at a very specific moment toward the end of a given piece, it seems as if the score is wrapped up in a harmonic sequence that determines the end of a complex development, and transitions into a soothing ending. It is both the end and a new beginning.”

on

francesco tristano returns to his first love-early music for upcoming studio album on early music.

presenting renaissance and early-baroque works with his own baroque-inspired piano pieces, the record features music by girolamo frecobaldi, orlando gibbons, john bull and peter philips

NEW SINGLE ‘ARIA FOR RS’ IS OUT TODAY ON SONY CLASSICAL
NEW ALBUM OUT ON SONY CLASSICAL FEBRUARY 4, 2022

A meditative, peaceful listen full of grace and beauty, ‘Aria For RS’ is one of five original compositions that Tristano wrote for On Early Music, his third release with Sony Classical which will be out February 4, 2022. Interspersed with these are works by some of early music’s greatest English composers and organists – Orlando Gibbons, John Bull, and Peter Philips – and one of Tristano’s greatest inspirations, Italian composer Girolamo Frescobaldi. Yet On Early Music is not merely a fitting homage to this repertoire; the works are given a fresh, contemporary twist thanks to Tristano’s production skills, studio mastery, and a keen eye for detail.

Listen now 🙂