Montenegrin Guitar Duo have released the first two in a series of videos showcasing their transcriptions of J. S. Bach’s English Suites.
Filmed earlier this year in Germany at Hohnekirche, Soest, and published to YouTube by Naxos Music, the video series will feature the English Suite No. 2, BWV 807, and the English Suite No. 6, BWV 811, with individual movements being released weekly.
The first two videos take the opening movements — Prélude and Allemande — from the English Suite No. 2, and are available to watch online now.
The third video premieres tomorrow (Saturday 16 July) at 4pm UK time on the Naxos YouTube channel, and features the third movement, Courante. Click here to watch the premiere.
Goran and Danijel of the Montenegrin Guitar Duo wrote these Bach transcriptions for their two-volume complete recording of the six English Suites for the Naxos label. English Suite No. 2 features on Volume 1, released in 2015, while English Suite No. 6 appears on Volume 2, released in 2018.
Both discs received great critical acclaim on their release, with Gramophone Magazine praising “the precision of ensemble, the clarity of articulation, the rhythmic vitality and the exuberant ornamentation”, and American Record Guide calling them “fine transcriptions, brilliantly played”, going on to say:
“The faster movements are played with infectious rhythmic energy and joy. Ornaments sparkle like firecrackers, and some of the slower movements are simply ravishing—listen to the sarabande from the second suite and be awashed in beauty!”
Watch the first two videos now:
