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Bach Interpreted: Piano Variations on Bach Chorales (Deluxe Release) album cover

Album guide

Bach Interpreted: Piano Variations on Bach Chorales (Deluxe Release)

Chad Lawson

Composer
J.S. Bach
Released
2016
Label
Hillset Records
Forces
Piano, Solo
Personnel
Chad Lawson piano

Chad Lawson turned to Bach after the success of The Chopin Variations, but chose a quieter and less familiar route: vocal chorales rather than the keyboard works most listeners already know. He recorded the album in two days, reducing the music to solo piano and allowing each hymn tune to unfold at an unhurried pace.

The deluxe edition follows Lawson’s ten extended variations with shorter statements of the same chorales. That second pass reveals how much space he has opened around Bach’s harmonies, and how far the longer versions travel while keeping their melodies in view.

Hear both

The album includes its own performances of the classical originals as well as the jazz readings, so there is no separate classical side.

The albumChad Lawson · 2016

The player above carries the complete album in track order, the straight performances and the jazz readings alike.

Open full album in Spotify

Spotify’s player is here for convenience; the full track listing below remains available to everyone.

Source works

The album’s complete track listing, with each classical source identified and original compositions marked plainly.

  1. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 Christus, der uns selig macht (Arr. by Chad Lawson for Piano)St John Passion, BWV 245: No. 15, chorale ‘Christus, der uns selig macht’
  2. So wünsch’ ich mir zu guter Letzt, Sacred Song for Voice & Continuo, BWV 502 (Arr. by Chad Lawson for Piano)‘So wünsch ich mir zu guter Letzt’, BWV 502, from the Schemelli Gesangbuch
  3. Cantata No. 16, Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV 16 (Arr. by Chad Lawson for Piano)Cantata ‘Herr Gott, dich loben wir’, BWV 16: No. 6, chorale ‘All solch dein Güt wir preisen’
  4. Jesu, du mein habstes Leben, Chorale Setting for 4 Voices, BWV 356 (Arr. by Chad Lawson for Piano)Chorale ‘Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben’, BWV 356
  5. Es steh’n vor Gottes Throne, Chorale Setting for 4 Voices (Arr. by Chad Lawson for Piano)Chorale ‘Es stehn vor Gottes Throne’, BWV 309
  6. Cantata No. 62, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62 (Arr. by Chad Lawson for Piano)Cantata ‘Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland’, BWV 62: No. 6, chorale ‘Lob sei Gott dem Vater g’ton’
  7. Die bitt’re Leidenszeit beginnet abermal, Sacred Song for Voice & Continuo (Arr. by Chad Lawson for Piano)‘Die bittre Leidenszeit beginnet abermal’, BWV 450, from the Schemelli Gesangbuch
  8. Cantata No. 26, Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig, BWV 26 (Arr. by Chad Lawson for Piano)Cantata ‘Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig’, BWV 26: No. 6, chorale ‘Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig’
  9. Herr Jesu Christ, mein’s Lebens Licht, Chorale Setting for 4 Voices, BWV 335 (Arr. by Chad Lawson for Piano)Chorale ‘Herr Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht’, BWV 335
  10. Christus, der uns selig macht, Chorale Setting for 4 Voices, BWV 283 (Arr. by Chad Lawson for Piano)Chorale ‘Christus, der uns selig macht’, BWV 283
  11. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 Christus, der uns selig machtSt John Passion, BWV 245: No. 15, chorale ‘Christus, der uns selig macht’
  12. So wünsch’ ich mir zu guter Letzt, Sacred Song for Voice & Continuo, BWV 502‘So wünsch ich mir zu guter Letzt’, BWV 502, from the Schemelli Gesangbuch
  13. Cantata No. 16, Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV 16Cantata ‘Herr Gott, dich loben wir’, BWV 16: No. 6, chorale ‘All solch dein Güt wir preisen’
  14. Jesu, du mein habstes Leben, Chorale Setting for 4 Voices, BWV 356Chorale ‘Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben’, BWV 356
  15. Es steh’n vor Gottes Throne, Chorale Setting for 4 VoicesChorale ‘Es stehn vor Gottes Throne’, BWV 309
  16. Cantata No. 62, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62Cantata ‘Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland’, BWV 62: No. 6, chorale ‘Lob sei Gott dem Vater g’ton’
  17. Die bitt’re Leidenszeit beginnet abermal, Sacred Song for Voice & Continuo‘Die bittre Leidenszeit beginnet abermal’, BWV 450, from the Schemelli Gesangbuch
  18. Cantata No. 26, Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig, BWV 26Cantata ‘Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig’, BWV 26: No. 6, chorale ‘Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig’
  19. Herr Jesu Christ, mein’s Lebens Licht, Chorale Setting for 4 Voices, BWV 335 (Arr. by Chad Lawson for Piano)Chorale ‘Herr Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht’, BWV 335
  20. Christus, der uns selig macht, Chorale Setting for 4 Voices, BWV 283Chorale ‘Christus, der uns selig macht’, BWV 283