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The Cello Suites: J. S. Bach, Pablo Casals, and the Search for a Baroque Masterpiece by Eric Siblin
cameliarose's review against another edition
4.0
Very readable and entertaining, I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Eric Siblin.
The book contains 36 chapters, smartly organised using the 6 parts of the 6 cello suites as titles. I like classical music, love the Cello Suites (Yo-yo Ma's version is my favourite), but I knew nothing about Bach himself or Pablo Casals until I read this book. Life in Baroque Germany was fascinating. Bach likely was far more passionate, unlike the usual formidable image one might conjure from his almost mathematical compositions. Pablo Casals's unusual, enduring and very successful life as a musician, Spanish history in the first 70 years of 20th century and Spain's stand in Word War II were all good reads to me.
I am rather omnivorous in terms of music taste, enjoying good music of different kinds. Glad to notice the writer also has flexible taste, albeit not a fan of U2. After reading chapter Suite 5 - Gigue, I searched Spotify for the many vastly different adaptions of Bach.
The book contains 36 chapters, smartly organised using the 6 parts of the 6 cello suites as titles. I like classical music, love the Cello Suites (Yo-yo Ma's version is my favourite), but I knew nothing about Bach himself or Pablo Casals until I read this book. Life in Baroque Germany was fascinating. Bach likely was far more passionate, unlike the usual formidable image one might conjure from his almost mathematical compositions. Pablo Casals's unusual, enduring and very successful life as a musician, Spanish history in the first 70 years of 20th century and Spain's stand in Word War II were all good reads to me.
I am rather omnivorous in terms of music taste, enjoying good music of different kinds. Glad to notice the writer also has flexible taste, albeit not a fan of U2. After reading chapter Suite 5 - Gigue, I searched Spotify for the many vastly different adaptions of Bach.
stephanrahan's review against another edition
5.0
beautiful book following the history of the cello suites. the life of bach and pablo casells the cellist who rediscoved them. its an amazing personal book. and you can feel the love of the subject that the auther has.
it will influence how I play the suites. when I get goodf enough to play them
it will influence how I play the suites. when I get goodf enough to play them
evelynjlamb's review against another edition
2.0
This is not the book I was expecting. I am a violist and have played the Bach cello suites (up an octave) almost since I started playing. I love them because as a 10-year-old, I could get something out of them, and as a 32-year-old I can get something out of them. I never get tired of playing them. I was expecting a book that analyzed the suites musically to get some insight into how they are composed, how the movements of each suite are connected to each other, and so on. Siblin does give brief descriptions of some of the movements at the beginning of each chapter, but it's more to set the mood than to give any kind of analysis or insight.
I grew up with all manner of "Classical" music, including Bach, so I did not identify with Siblin as a pop music critic who suddenly discovered Bach. To be fair, I could tell as soon as I started reading the introduction that this book is not the book I expected, and I was not in the target audience, but I read it anyway. I did learn some interesting things about Bach, Casals, and the suites themselves (including the fact that they were viewed as exercises rather than performance-worthy pieces for a long time, which baffles me). The reference section will be useful as I try to find the book I was hoping to read, one that goes more in depth into musical analysis.
One frustrating aspect of the organization of the book itself is that the endnotes are not labeled so you know to look for them as you are reading the text. I didn't even know there were endnotes until I got to the end of the book. They had some interesting information in them, and it would have been nice to get that information in context at the time I read it. (Perhaps this was just my edition.)
I grew up with all manner of "Classical" music, including Bach, so I did not identify with Siblin as a pop music critic who suddenly discovered Bach. To be fair, I could tell as soon as I started reading the introduction that this book is not the book I expected, and I was not in the target audience, but I read it anyway. I did learn some interesting things about Bach, Casals, and the suites themselves (including the fact that they were viewed as exercises rather than performance-worthy pieces for a long time, which baffles me). The reference section will be useful as I try to find the book I was hoping to read, one that goes more in depth into musical analysis.
One frustrating aspect of the organization of the book itself is that the endnotes are not labeled so you know to look for them as you are reading the text. I didn't even know there were endnotes until I got to the end of the book. They had some interesting information in them, and it would have been nice to get that information in context at the time I read it. (Perhaps this was just my edition.)
julziez's review against another edition
2.0
I actually have no idea why I bought this book. I heard about it on a tv show [or I thought I did] and grabbed it off the shelf in haste without really reading the back of it. So, how surprized do you think I was when I reached for a nice fiction filler and was thrown into the 1700s to learn about the life and discovery of JS Bach? The thing about it is, after reading the lengthy biography of the unknown Francis Galton, I wasn't ready to read another lengthy biography about another man that did some important things and died hundreds of years ago. Not only that, but I've also never really had an interest in Bach or the men of classical music. That being said, my lack of interest in the text's subject may or may not have influenced my dislike of the text itself.
As I was reading the Cello Suites, I kept thinking to myself, "Why am I reading about so many people other than JS Bach?" It then became clear to me, though, in about the last third of the book, that the author was merely trying to fill in the huge gaps of knowledge about Bach's life with information about people that relate to him and have a better kept history. Such as Pablo Casals, the discoverer of the Cello Suites and a famous cellist in his own right. I, however, having no interest in Bach himself had even less interest in the people who surrounded him in life and after death. It also made the text a lot harder to read as you had to keep track of names, stories and time periods that differed by centuries.
The only aspects of the book that I must say I liked were the separation of the text into 'suites' and then into various parts of those suites as well as the cohesion between all the discussed people and how they were related so closely through a single love; Bach's music.
If you love classical music, the cello, a centuries old mystery or JS Bach then you will love this read, but otherwise, do not fall into the trap like I did!
As I was reading the Cello Suites, I kept thinking to myself, "Why am I reading about so many people other than JS Bach?" It then became clear to me, though, in about the last third of the book, that the author was merely trying to fill in the huge gaps of knowledge about Bach's life with information about people that relate to him and have a better kept history. Such as Pablo Casals, the discoverer of the Cello Suites and a famous cellist in his own right. I, however, having no interest in Bach himself had even less interest in the people who surrounded him in life and after death. It also made the text a lot harder to read as you had to keep track of names, stories and time periods that differed by centuries.
The only aspects of the book that I must say I liked were the separation of the text into 'suites' and then into various parts of those suites as well as the cohesion between all the discussed people and how they were related so closely through a single love; Bach's music.
If you love classical music, the cello, a centuries old mystery or JS Bach then you will love this read, but otherwise, do not fall into the trap like I did!
clss97's review against another edition
5.0
The most beautiful book I have ever read and my complete favourite. Whether accurate or not, the manner in which this story is told and the passion of the author brings me back again at least 4 times a year! If I had to be deserted on a desert island with no music I would take this, for these words are the closest you can possibly get to music without making a sound.
buttermellow's review
3.0
A keeper. I think that my dad will like this one.
Bach sounded like a character, sneaking girls into the Church loft, arguing with his employer and subsequently getting thrown into jail.
This book fleshes out the story behinds his Cello Suites and makes them so much more colorful and intriguing to listen to, especially when thinking about what stage Bach was at in his life as he wrote each one, and how this reflects the mood of each piece.
Bach sounded like a character, sneaking girls into the Church loft, arguing with his employer and subsequently getting thrown into jail.
This book fleshes out the story behinds his Cello Suites and makes them so much more colorful and intriguing to listen to, especially when thinking about what stage Bach was at in his life as he wrote each one, and how this reflects the mood of each piece.
lychnomancy's review
A readable, interesting trio of stories from 3 eras twined around the cello suites. Would recommend to people interested in music and history
susurrus's review
4.0
My dad handed me this book years ago saying I might enjoy it because I play the cello and I like Bach. Playing the cello is more of a hobby for me and not a way of life, so I didn't pick it up right away. I think I was just out of high school and nonfiction wasn't really my cup of tea yet.
I am glad I finally got around to reading it. Siblin was a journalist before writing this book, which made me wary just because I DNF'd The Soloist because it was written too much like a really really really long newspaper article. However, Siblin actually has a good lyrical way of writing in the chapters that are mostly memoir. Even in the chapters about Bach and Casals, Siblin makes it interesting, rather than a list of dates, names, and facts. I was pleasantly surprised. I learned a lot of anecdotes about Bach's life and Casals'. There is no way all of the information in this book will stick in my head, but when I have occasion to, I will have a box full of Bach.
I will say I enjoyed the first half of this book and then it seemed to fall off a little. It could just be because my life became very busy and I didn't have the time to read that I wanted to, but it seemed like the book itself became less novel-y and more referencey for a while there. That being said, I still got enjoyment out of it, and when I started getting a bit jaded on Bach's employment opportunities, Siblin switched to Casals or himself for a few sections. It was a good way of keeping me reading and interested.
I am glad I finally got around to reading it. Siblin was a journalist before writing this book, which made me wary just because I DNF'd The Soloist because it was written too much like a really really really long newspaper article. However, Siblin actually has a good lyrical way of writing in the chapters that are mostly memoir. Even in the chapters about Bach and Casals, Siblin makes it interesting, rather than a list of dates, names, and facts. I was pleasantly surprised. I learned a lot of anecdotes about Bach's life and Casals'. There is no way all of the information in this book will stick in my head, but when I have occasion to, I will have a box full of Bach.
I will say I enjoyed the first half of this book and then it seemed to fall off a little. It could just be because my life became very busy and I didn't have the time to read that I wanted to, but it seemed like the book itself became less novel-y and more referencey for a while there. That being said, I still got enjoyment out of it, and when I started getting a bit jaded on Bach's employment opportunities, Siblin switched to Casals or himself for a few sections. It was a good way of keeping me reading and interested.
cameliarose's review
4.0
Very readable and entertaining, I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Eric Siblin.
The book contains 36 chapters, smartly organised using the 6 parts of the 6 cello suites as titles. I like classical music, love the Cello Suites (Yo-yo Ma's version is my favourite), but I knew nothing about Bach himself or Pablo Casals until I read this book. Life in Baroque Germany was fascinating. Bach likely was far more passionate, unlike the usual formidable image one might conjure from his almost mathematical compositions. Pablo Casals's unusual, enduring and very successful life as a musician, Spanish history in the first 70 years of 20th century and Spain's stand in Word War II were all good reads to me.
I am rather omnivorous in terms of music taste, enjoying good music of different kinds. Glad to notice the writer also has flexible taste, albeit not a fan of U2. After reading chapter Suite 5 - Gigue, I searched Spotify for the many vastly different adaptions of Bach.
The book contains 36 chapters, smartly organised using the 6 parts of the 6 cello suites as titles. I like classical music, love the Cello Suites (Yo-yo Ma's version is my favourite), but I knew nothing about Bach himself or Pablo Casals until I read this book. Life in Baroque Germany was fascinating. Bach likely was far more passionate, unlike the usual formidable image one might conjure from his almost mathematical compositions. Pablo Casals's unusual, enduring and very successful life as a musician, Spanish history in the first 70 years of 20th century and Spain's stand in Word War II were all good reads to me.
I am rather omnivorous in terms of music taste, enjoying good music of different kinds. Glad to notice the writer also has flexible taste, albeit not a fan of U2. After reading chapter Suite 5 - Gigue, I searched Spotify for the many vastly different adaptions of Bach.