Bach on Nine Strings

Brunello, Mario, Valli, Mauro

A 590

Two violoncelli piccoli, one with four strings, the other with five, making a total of nine strings: it is as if a new instrument were born, an organ with strings instead of pipes, to perform virtuoso polyphonic masterpieces with a larger, enriched sound palette. Taking Gustav Leonhardt’s keyboard transcriptions of the Suites, Sonatas and Partitas as his point of departure, Mario Brunello adds a new sonic dimension to three of Bach’s solo pieces for unaccompanied violin and cello, making the polyphony previously confined to only four strings audible. He is partnered by his longstanding friend the specialist Mauro Valli, who has already appeared on Arcana with his personal reinterpretation of the Cello Suites (Bach in Bologna A459, 2019).

"I do not think of this as a transcription, nor even as a version for other instruments. I would simply call it an apparition – something that exists, but, like certain natural phenomena – a rainbow, for instance – becomes visible only under particular conditions." (Mario Brunello)

Works:

•Bach, J S: Violin Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005 (Arr. for Two Piccolo Cellos)
•Bach, J S: Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011 (Arr. for Two Piccolo Cellos)
•Bach, J S: Violin Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006 (Arr. for Two Piccolo Cellos)

CD x 1

Arcana

20.02.2026

3760195735909