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Bach Cello Suites
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Bach Cello Suites

"Stunning!"

The six unaccompanied cello suites are a cornerstone of the classical cello repertoire

Octave Records is both proud and excited to release one of the world's greatest works of music by one of the world's most celebrated musicians. The Bach Cello Suites, recorded in both two-channel and 5-channel surround in a magnificent live hall in pure DSD is performed by Zuill Bailey, widely considered one of the premiere cellists in the world. He is a Grammy Award-winning, internationally renowned soloist, recitalist, Artistic Director, and teacher. This remarkable Octave Record's release is the culmination of the artist's long-held dream of sharing with the world his musical journey. Zuill Bailey first recorded the suites in 2008 on the Telarc label. Now, more than a decade later, this Octave Records performance reflects the artist's mature yet daring approach, captured with remarkable realism as never before in stunning high-resolution stereo and surround sound. There has never been a recording or performance like this. An absolute treasure.

Note:

SOLD OUT - vinyl and hybrid SACD/CD editions
$29.00
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01 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1007 Suite No. 1 in G Major - Prelude
02 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1007 Suite No. 1 in G Major - Allemande
03 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1007 Suite No. 1 in G Major - Courante
04 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1007 Suite No. 1 in G Major - Sarabande
05 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1007 Suite No. 1 in G Major - Menuet 1 2
06 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1007 Suite No. 1 in G Major - Gigue
07 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1009 Suite No. 3 in C Major - Prelude
08 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1009 Suite No. 3 in C Major - Allemande
09 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1009 Suite No. 3 in C Major - Courante
10 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1009 Suite No. 3 in C Major - Sarabande
11 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1009 Suite No. 3 in C Major - Bouree 1 2
12 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1009 Suite No. 3 in C Major - Gigue
13 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1011 Suite No. 5 in C minor - Prelude
14 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1011 Suite No. 5 in C minor - Allemande
15 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1011 Suite No. 5 in C minor - Courante
16 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1011 Suite No. 5 in C minor - Sarabande
17 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1011 Suite No. 5 in C minor - Gavotte 1 2
18 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1011 Suite No. 5 in C minor - Gigue
01 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1008 Suite No. 2 in D minor - Prelude
02 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1008 Suite No. 2 in D minor - Allemande
03 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1008 Suite No. 2 in D minor - Courante
04 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1008 Suite No. 2 in D minor - Sarabande
05 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1008 Suite No. 2 in D minor - Menuet 1 2
06 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1008 Suite No. 2 in D minor - Gigue
07 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1010 Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major - Prelude
08 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1010 Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major - Allemande
09 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1010 Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major - Courante
10 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1010 Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major - Sarabande
11 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1010 Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major - Bouree 1 2
12 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1010 Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major - Gigue
13 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1012 Suite No. 6 in D Major - Prelude
14 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1012 Suite No. 6 in D Major - Allemande
15 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1012 Suite No. 6 in D Major - Courante
16 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1012 Suite No. 6 in D Major - Sarabande
17 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1012 Suite No. 6 in D Major - Gavotte 1 2
18 - Zuill Bailey - BWV 1012 Suite No. 6 in D Major - Gigue

Bach Cello Suites

Zuill Bailey's rare combination of celebrated artistry, technical wizardry and engaging
personality has secured his place as one of the most sought after and
active cellists today. A consummate concerto soloist, Mr. Bailey has
appeared at Disney Hall, the Kennedy Center, the United Nations, Alice
Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Metropolitan Museum
of Art.
In his storied career, he has collaborated with such conductors as
Itzhak Perlman, Alan Gilbert, Andrew Litton, Neeme Jarvi, Giancarlo
Guerrero, James DePriest, Jun Markl, Carlos Kalmar, Andrey Boreyko,
Krzysztof Urbanski, Jacques Lacombe, Grant Llewellyn and Stanislav
Skrowaczewski. He also has been featured with musical luminaries Leon
Fleisher, Jaime Laredo, the Juilliard String Quartet, Lynn Harrell and
Janos Starker.
His international appearances include notable performances with the
Moscow Chamber Orchestra, as well as concerts in Cuba, Australia, the
Dominican Republic, France, Israel, Spain, South Africa, Hong Kong,
Jordan, South America and the United Kingdom. Festival appearances
include Ravinia, the Interlochen Center for the Arts, Manchester Cello
Festival (UK), Wimbledon (UK), Consonances- St. Nazaire (France),
Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Deia Music Festival- Mallorca
(Spain), Montreal (Canada), and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Mr. Bailey is a renowned recording artist with over thirty titles. He
won a best solo performance Grammy Award in 2017 for his Live Recording
of “Tales of Hemingway,” by composer Michael Daugherty. The award
winning CD, recorded with the Nashville Symphony, Giancarlo Guerrero,
conductor, also won the triple crown with Grammys for best composition,
“Tales of Hemingway,” and Best Compendium. His celebrated live
performances with the Indianapolis Symphony of the Bloch Schelomo, Muhly
Cello Concerto (World Premiere), Elgar and Dvorak Cello Concertos,
described by Gramophone magazine as the new “reference” recording and
one that “sweeps the board.” In addition, the Dvorak Cello Concerto CD
is listed in the “Penguin’s Guide,” as one of the Top 1000 Classical
Recordings of all time.

Features

  • One pressing Austrian gold pressed dual-layer SACD
  • Pure DSD + PROMastered CD layers
  • DVD data disc containing DSD64 stereo, DSD64 multi-channel layer, DSDDirect Mastered 192kHz 24 bit, 96kHz 24 bit, 44.1kHz 16 bit PCM
  • Pure DSD recorded Five/Four REVEAL SDM DSD Technology
  • Full 5-channel surround mix included on SACD disc
  • DSD64, DSDDirect Mastered 192kHz 24 bit, 96kHz 24 bit, 44.1kHz 24 bit PCM download
  • No compression in the mastering or recording process
  • CD layer of SACD playable on any CD player
  • Mastering verified through the PS Audio DirectStream DAC
  • All tracks verified on the Infinity IRSV in PS Audio's Music Room Two

Artist and Production Credits

The Bach cello suites are structured in six movements. Each begins with a prelude followed by a similar progression of movements based on Baroque dance forms such as the allemande, courante, sarabande, two minuets, bourrées, or gavottes, and a final gigue. As Bach left no musical annotations in the score, the magic of the cello suites lies in the interpretive skill of the performer, making each performance a unique treasure. Zuill Bailey’s first recording of the complete suites was released on the Telarc label in 2008. This second recording on the Octave Record label reflects his ever-evolving interpretation more than a decade later. In this remarkable performance and recording, Bailey offers a compelling new interpretation of Bach’s masterworks informed by decades of immersion in the suites, and the personal and emotional impact the artist felt from the pandemic. “When I was a kid, the Bach Cello Suites were not played in public – they were so difficult that people were afraid of them,” said Bailey. “Yet in my 20s and 30s they became my guide and have remained so.” As Bailey approached age 50 he started feeling burned out – and then the pandemic hit. “Like so many others, I found myself in a strange place, alone and vulnerable. I had been on the road for 315 days a year, and now was cut off from performing.” Bailey didn’t touch his cello for weeks. “On the other hand, in isolation, I rediscovered what ‘home’ was.” When he resumed playing, he once again turned to the Bach Cello Suites. “I began playing Bach very differently – simpler. I found it purifying.” He stated, “the less I tried to ‘interpret’ the music, the better it sounded. It was more symbolic of the solitary feeling I was going through.” Thus, when Zuill Bailey reached out to us at Octave Records, he wanted nothing but the world's finest recording equipment and a label that would fund and give the artist all the tools necessary for his dream to come true. This work is the result of a remarkable team effort by people who cherish and honor the music. We at Octave Records are honored to have helped make this happen. We hope you share with us the joy in this creation.<br><br>

Credits

Produced and Edited for Octave Records by Thomas C. Moore, Five/Four Productions, Ltd.
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered for Octave Records by Robert Friedrich, Five/ Four Productions, Ltd.
Technical onsite support and DAW Systems Operations by Gus Skinas, Octave Records.
Executive Producer, Jessica Carson, Octave Records.
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered using Five/Four REVEAL SDM DSD Technology.
Recorded at Ikeda Theater, Mesa Arts Center, Mesa Arizona, January 23-27, 2021
Microphones: AEA R88, Royer SF-24 and Sennheiser MKH800
Microphone Preamplifiers: Integer RMP-1 and Fred Forsell Technologies SMP-2b
Recording system powered through PS Audio Direct Stream Power Plant 15
Analog Mix Console: Custom modified Studer 962
Interconnecting Cables: Brown Electronics Labs BEL “The Wire” Type P1; Music Interface Technologies Proline with Balanced Terminators; Mogami Neglex.
Digital Recording System: Merging Technologies Pyramix DAW with Merging Technologies Hapi A/D and D/A converters Monitored Through: EMM Labs Switchman
Monitor Speakers: ATC SCM 50 and SCM 25
Digital Editor: Pyramix
Special thanks to Randy Vogel, Robby Elliott and Troy Buckey, Mesa Arts Center.

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