Has it been a month since I last posted on this blog? Part of the reason is my stealing time to work on several pieces for classical guitar since listening to a new recording by one of my favorite American guitarists, Jason Vieaux. His performance of the Bach Lute Works (BWV 995-998) was released in February of this year and it is nothing short of inspirational. After listening to this recording multiple times with my jaw falling wide open in amazed admiration, I picked up a transcription of the prelude from BWV 997 and have started working on it – call it lexico musica divina.
Jason recorded these Lute Works on his magnificent sounding, extremely rare, concert guitar by the great German master, Gernot Wagner (just a mere $22,500). It is a “double top” construction, meaning the top spruce sound board you see on the guitar is coupled behind it with an additional sound board made of cedar giving the instrument extraordinary clarity, warmth, and color. O.k., it’s to die for.
In the video below Jason talks about this magnificent guitar and why he prefers to record in the Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus — a Gothic cathedral in Cleveland. You can also find a great interview with Jason about this CD on the Naxos Music Blog here.
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Rick, Thank you for sharing your passion for this great music played by a remarkable musician.