CelloEvolution - from Bologna to Cöthen

What was the first composition ever written for solo violoncello? What was composed before Bach created his extraordinary suites for solo cello? These questions drove the cellist Josetxu Obregón to devote himself to the beginnings of solo literature for his instrument. These beginnings can be found in the city of Bologna, which, with its brilliant Capella Musicale and the Accademia Filarmonica, made a decisive contribution to the development of the violin and the cello. Obregon presents two ricercari by Domenico Gabrielli from 1688 as the first specific works for unaccompanied solo cello. Further stations on the way from Bologna to Cöthen to the climax of this genre with Bach’s six suites are compositions by Vitali, Galli, de Ruvo, Dall’ Abaco, Supriano and Colombi. Bach’s works are also presented by Obregon, but in an unusual way: He takes a dance movement from each of Bach’s suites and then places them – as a comparison of styles – between the works from his Italian anthology.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Prélude from: Suite no. 2 in d minor, bwv 1008

Domenico Galli (1649-1697)
Sonata IX 5:11

Giuseppe Maria Dall’ Abaco (1710-1805)
Capriccio Quarto

Johann Sebastian Bach
Allemande from: Suite no. 6 in d major, bwv 1012

Domenico Gabrielli (1651-1690)
Ricercar Sesto
Ricercar Primo

Johann Sebastian Bach
Courante from: Suite no. 1 in g major, bwv 1007
Suites à Violoncello Solo senza Basso

Giulio de Ruvo (17th-18th c.)
Romanella vi in d minor
Romanella viii in d major

Johann Sebastian Bach
Sarabande from: Suite no. 5 in c minor, bwv 1011

Francesco Paolo Supriano (1678 -1753)
Toccata v
Toccata x

Johann Sebastian Bach
Bourrées from: Suite no. 4 in eb major, bwv 1010

Recorded in Las Rozas, Madrid, in November 2020
Engineered by Federico Prieto
Edited by Josetxu Obregón and Federico Prieto
Executive producers: Josetxu Obregón, Michael Sawall (note 1 music)
Booklet editor & layout: Joachim Berenbold
Cover photos: Pablo F. Juárez
Photos of the recording sessions: Tamar Lalo
Translations: Mark Wiggins (English), Pierre Elie Mamou (français),
note 1 music (deutsch)
π + © 2022 note 1 music gmbh, Heidelberg, Germany
CD manufactured in The Netherlands