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A review by cameliarose
The Cello Suites: J. S. Bach, Pablo Casals, and the Search for a Baroque Masterpiece by Eric Siblin
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.