CELLO EVOLUTION
From Bologna to Cöthen

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
01 Prélude from: Suite no. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008

Domenico Galli (1649-1697)
02 Sonata IX

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

Johann Sebastian Bach
04 Allemande from: Suite no. 6 in D major, BWV 1012

Domenico Gabrielli (1651-1690)
05 Ricercar Sesto
06 Ricercar Primo

Johann Sebastian Bach
07 Courante from: Suite no. 1 in G major, BWV 1007

Giulio de Ruvo (17th-18th c.)
08 Romanella VI in D minor
09 Romanella VIII in D major

Johann Sebastian Bach
10 Sarabande from: Suite no. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011

Francesco Paolo Supriano (1678 -1753)
11 Toccata V
12 Toccata X

Johann Sebastian Bach
13 Bourrées from: Suite no. 4 in Eb major, BWV 1010

Giovanni Battista Vitali (1632-1692)
14 Capritio

Giuseppe Colombi (1635-1694)
15 [Gigue]

Johann Sebastian Bach
16 Gigue from: Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009 3:26

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About this album

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. Obregón 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 Obregón, 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.