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Bach Mirror album cover

Album guide

Bach Mirror

Thomas Enhco & Vassilena Serafimova

Composer
J.S. Bach
Released
2021
Label
Masterworks
Forces
Piano, Marimba
Personnel
Thomas Enhco piano, Vassilena Serafimova marimba

Bach Mirror grew from a short programme commissioned by the Philharmonie de Paris in 2018, although Bach had been present in Thomas Enhco and Vassilena Serafimova’s duo since their first concert in 2009. They developed the album apart during the first Covid lockdown, then rehearsed together intensively before recording it in June 2020.

Its title describes their method. At piano and marimba, they move between transcription, improvisation and newly composed responses, changing Bach’s rhythm, harmony, metre and instrumental colour while keeping close to the substance of his music.

Hear both

The classical side contains only the source pieces used on the album, in album order. The jazz side presents the complete album whenever a dependable copy can be embedded.

The originalsJ.S. Bach · classical source works

One recording of “Jesus bleibet meine Freude” serves both track 3, which quotes it within “Fire Dance”, and track 4, which transcribes it; the other ten classical tracks have one recording each, while “Sur la route” is an original built from the four-note B-A-C-H cipher rather than a particular work.

Jazzed upThomas Enhco & Vassilena Serafimova · 2021
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Source works

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

  1. AvalancheThe Well-Tempered Clavier Book I: Prelude No. 2 in C minor, BWV 847
  2. MiroirsOrgan Sonata No. 4 in E minor, BWV 528: Andante, first two bars
  3. Fire DanceJesus bleibet meine Freude from Cantata BWV 147, quoted inside an Enhco composition
  4. Jesu, Joy of Man’s DesiringHerz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147: Jesus bleibet meine Freude
  5. VortexPartita for Violin No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002: the Double of the Sarabande
  6. Organ Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, BWV 527: VivaceOrgan Sonata No. 3 in D minor, BWV 527: Vivace
  7. ChaconnePartita for Violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: Chaconne
  8. Violin Sonata in A Major, BWV 1015: Allegro assaiViolin Sonata in A major, BWV 1015: Allegro assai
  9. SilenceCello Suite No. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 1010: Prelude
  10. Cantata (Sheep May Safely Graze, BWV 208-IX)Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd, BWV 208: Schafe können sicher weiden
  11. Sur la route (on the Name of Bach)Original composition by Thomas Enhco
  12. Air (After Air on the G String)Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: Air
  13. RefletsThe Well-Tempered Clavier Book I: Prelude No. 1 in C major, BWV 846