> > my attention was drawn to a YouTube performance of a Bach cello > > composition played by Anna Kowalska at > > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wi1IC6YQnM&feature=relmfu > > I have heard that the sarabande was a slower and stately dance, but it's hard to > imagine people of the time withstanding such a potent soporific as this first > piece played at this tempo.
I beg to differ. Notwithstanding all issues of the lute, Anna is performing this music stunningly. I have been listening breathlessly. The pulse is never broken, the melody is kept singing continuously. Her choice of tempo is perfect IMHO. > Perhaps it was meant to be in contrast to the > Courante. One may wonder so, as the sarabande actually is followed by two vivid bourrees. Mathias To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
