Suites Nos. 1, 2, 3 on the Mandocello

Bach's cello suites are his only works for solo cello, but they stand central to the repertoire and remain unequaled in their expressive musical depth. For Gidon Amran, the virtuoso mandolinist who has recorded his own unique arrangement of Paganini's 24 Caprices on Dynamic, has now arranged the Cello Suites Nos. 1-3 for the mandocello. This is a baritone instrument from the mandolin family, but it is much larger than a mandoline and the strings are tuned exactly like those of a cello. Because it is played with a plectrum, the mandocello belongs to a completely different tonal world than the cello and offers a unique perspective on these great works.