Transcriptions for Bach romantics

The 27 Bach transcriptions for classical guitar by Martin Hegel are a best-of collection with some of the old master's most famous melodies and pieces. This ranges from Air from the Suite No. 3 for orchestra up to the chorale prelude In dulci jubilo The focus is naturally on arrangements of movements for harpsichord (clavier) or other solo instruments. These include excerpts from the Goldberg Variations and the Well-tempered pianoas well as seven pieces from the music booklet for Anna Magdalena Bach. The cello suites and the sonatas and partitas for solo violin are also represented. The only pieces for lute or lute works are the catchy Bourrée in E minor from the first lute suite and the singular Prelude in D minor BWV 999 (originally in C minor) - both with remarkable fingerings.

Even the organ gets a chance: not only with the aforementioned chorale prelude suitable for the guitar, but also with the first three minutes of the mighty Toccata in D minor BWV 565, transposed to E minor. Transferring the numerous registers of the Queen of Instruments to the six strings of the guitar is a pretty bold undertaking in itself - especially with a piece whose original sound is so firmly anchored in the collective consciousness of music lovers that it is impossible to imagine playing or listening to it without it. But, according to the editor Martin Hegel, Bach's music "is so ingenious and clearly structured that it simply sounds good on any instrument".

Hegel's arrangements are lean, with plausible fingerings, almost no slurring and, in this respect, quite true to the style. Purists will be less interested in the booklet, but it has a lot to offer for unencumbered Bach fans who play the guitar. The edition is functional and carefully designed. A CD with recordings by the editor is available separately.

Bach for Guitar, 27 transcriptions for guitar arr. by Martin Hegel, ED 21601, € 14.99, Schott, Mainz 2013