William Carter

William Carter – Bach: Bach reimagines Bach (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:06:25 minutes | 1,26 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Linn Records

William Carter’s exemplary musicianship is showcased to its fullest on this new recording of Bach’s own transcriptions for the lute. Almost unplayable in parts, many musicians take certain liberties with the music so that it glows more naturally but William Carter’s determined approach to authenticity sees the lutenist achieve the near impossible: playing the music as it was originally written. Carter very subtly enhances BWV 1001, originally for unaccompanied violin, in keeping with Bach’s own perceived style, namely to only add “”as much harmony as he found necessary””. The final piece undergoes the most extensive reimaginging as Bach expertly transforms the Fifth Cello Suite into a “”new”” lute work: so successful is it that Carter considers it to be, interms of understanding the essential nature and expressive qualities of the lute, “”the most perfect piece of lute music in existence””.

(more…)

William Carter – Esaias Reusner: Delitiae testudinis (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:12:36 minutes | 1,30 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Linn Records

Linn welcomes back lute virtuoso William Carter in a programme of works by another virtuoso, Esaias Reusner (1636-79), who worked and performed across Europe. Born in Silesia, he was considered to be one of the best lute players of his time and his influence was extensive. “Some may be drawn to the brilliance and noise of thunder and lightning, but ever since my youth, the soft and sweet sonorities of noble music has been my only pleasure”, so writes Reusner in the preface of his major work, Delitiae testudinis.This collection, introspective in essence, is outstanding not just for its exceptional quality but because it contains the very first dance suites – for any instrument! – published in Europe. This sequence of dances (Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gigue) was a form used by virtually every Baroque composer who followed, including Bach and Haendel. Carter has recorded three of these suites and also pieces from later publications, some of which are premiere recordings.

(more…)