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J. S. Bach: Illuminations - Improvisations on Bach album cover

Album guide

J. S. Bach: Illuminations - Improvisations on Bach

Philippe Thuriot

Composers
J.S. Bach; Petzold
Released
2025
Label
Challenge Classics
Forces
Accordion, Solo
Personnel
Philippe Thuriot accordion

Philippe Thuriot grew up dancing in the village café run by his parents, where his uncles played accordion and drums. His adolescent rebellion was not rock but Bach; later, contemporary accordion music, jazz collaborations and work with dance companies pulled improvisation back into his playing. Illuminations brings those experiences together, with Bach’s music serving as both score and starting point.

Thuriot recorded the album over a week in a small church in the Auvergne, and its bells became part of the finished recording. His accordion can sustain and shape Bach’s counterpoint almost like an organ, but he also lets the music breathe, lilt and wander, reconnecting the Bach of his youth with the spontaneity of those childhood dances.

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, Petzold · classical source works

The classical player has fifteen videos for thirteen tracks: track 1 pairs separate performances of the Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp minor, BWV 849, and track 7 does the same for the Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 860.

Jazzed upPhilippe Thuriot · 2025
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. Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude and Fugue in C-Sharp Minor, BWV 849J.S. Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier I: Prelude and Fugue No. 4 in C-sharp minor, BWV 849
  2. Notenbüchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach, Minuet in G Major, BWV Anh. 114 (Arr. by Christian Petzold)Petzold: Minuet in G major, BWV Anh. 114, from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach
  3. Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: IV. GigueJ.S. Bach: Violin Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: IV. Gigue
  4. Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude in D Minor, BWV 851J.S. Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier I: Prelude No. 6 in D minor, BWV 851
  5. Notebooks for Anna Magdalena Bach, Minuet in D Minor, BWV Anh. 132Anonymous: Minuet in D minor, BWV Anh. 132, from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach
  6. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor, BWV 1067: VII. BadinerieJ.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: Badinerie
  7. Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 860J.S. Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier I: Prelude and Fugue No. 15 in G major, BWV 860
  8. Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude in C Major (E-Flat Major), BWV 846J.S. Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier I: Prelude No. 1 in C major, BWV 846, played in E-flat major
  9. Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, BWV 1001: I. AdagioJ.S. Bach: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I. Adagio
  10. Notenbüchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach, Minuet in G Minor, BWV Anh. 115 (Arr. by Christian Petzold)Petzold: Minuet in G minor, BWV Anh. 115, from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach
  11. Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude in C Minor, BWV 847J.S. Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier I: Prelude No. 2 in C minor, BWV 847
  12. Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude in E Major, BWV 854J.S. Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier I: Prelude No. 9 in E major, BWV 854. The track also plays Keith Jarrett’s Memories of Tomorrow, which is non-classical.
  13. Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude in D Major, BWV 850J.S. Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier I: Prelude No. 5 in D major, BWV 850