Customer Reviews

Lute Suites for Guitar (Classical Guitar Series)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I recently attended a 40 hour session of master classes that focused on interpretation of Baroque music on the modern guitar. Most of the attendees were students at conservatories - the general consensus was that this edition is superb. There may be others as good, but this one is certainly up to standard. During the class, we often referred to this edition to correct errors in the other student's scores.

Of course, any transcription for the guitar makes changes, drops some notes, looses some voices, etc. The maestro's opinion (a specialist in music of the period) was that the compromises in this edition are quite fine.

Of course, one should always have as close to the original texts as possible for reference.

I have to say that what Jerry Willard did in publishing his edition of J.S. Bach's Complete Works was to not inflict upon the music his musical conception, through over-fingering or ornamentation. It is perfect for the professional guitarist who wants a very reliable transcription in the accepted "guitar keys", as well as a great study version for any student of the guitar. Like his other publication of the Bach Inventions for the guitar by the same publisher, it is a diet staple both for me and my students.

It is generally accepted that one must study these suites with a great teacher who has familiarity with the style, (which Jerry Willard is!)and to read alot about performance practice to determine for yourself what the best choices are. All this is possible if you own this edition. In the end, Willard leaves the choices to us.

Excellent book!!

The text is for advance guitarist. Fingering made perfect musical sense. One of the best by far of J.S. Bach lute transciptions. Notation based from the original works are available for study or evaluation. This work is a necessary tool for those interested in The Lute Suites.

This is a great compilation! These transcriptions are very musical, given the limitations of transcribing for modern guitar from a 13 course baroque lute...of course it was necessary to drop a lot of bass notes and the bass lines and even mid-register voicing just can't be made to match the original pieces all that well. You may want to alter some of the fingering, but everyone except rank beginners do this as a matter of course. The one star review is harsh and unnecessary. Go for it! My 1980s copy is well-loved and well marked up!

Willard has done a more than adequate job with the arrangements of the lute suites in this collection. The fingerings are, like many other editions, somewhat predictable, but nonetheless quite functional and reasonable. It goes without saying that advanced Bach for the classical guitar presupposes a reasonable level of familiarity with the idiom if one is to make full use of the scores. In that regard, this collection excels. A solid and professional edition.

About the fingerings I must say that in some pieces I tend to alter them a lot, but this is most of the time a matter of personal taste and style. It's just in a few cases that they realy need to be changed, and this is perfectly normal in a book that covers all of Bach's works for lute.
Concerning the musicall content, this is a very good edition. I also liked the "ottava bassa" indications on the basses. This way you get a clear picture of the original bassline, and anyone that has ever played this suites knows how important they are.
Price is also very appealing.

I must first say that the only reason that I've given this book one star is because that's the lowest amount that I could give it and Bach's Lute Suites are in the book and the book didn't fall apart. This book gives you no real performance notes, no true historical perspective of the music and how it should be interpreted, and the fingerings are adequate at best. As a teacher,and performer I can only recommend this book if the Frank Koonce Bach book is out of print or you can't afford something else. Shame on you Ariel Publ. and Jerry Willard.