J. S. Bach: Illuminations - Improvisations on Bach Philippe Thuriot

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750): Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude and Fugue in C-Sharp Minor, BWV 849:
• 1 Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude and Fugue in C-Sharp Minor, BWV 849 07:00
• Notenbüchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach, Minuet in G Major, BWV Anh. 114 (Arr. by Christian Petzold):
• 2 Bach: Notenbüchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach, Minuet in G Major, BWV Anh. 114 (Arr. by Christian Petzold) 02:59
• Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004:
• 3 Bach: Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: IV. Gigue 04:14
• Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude in D Minor, BWV 851:
• 4 Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude in D Minor, BWV 851 04:23
• Notebooks for Anna Magdalena Bach, Minuet in D Minor, BWV Anh. 132:
• 5 Bach: Notebooks for Anna Magdalena Bach, Minuet in D Minor, BWV Anh. 132 02:45
• Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor, BWV 1067:
• 6 Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor, BWV 1067: VII. Badinerie 02:49
• Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 860:
• 7 Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 860 07:57
• Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude in C Major (E-Flat Major), BWV 846:
• 8 Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude in C Major (E-Flat Major), BWV 846 04:18
• Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, BWV 1001:
• 9 Bach: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, BWV 1001: I. Adagio 03:53
• Notenbüchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach, Minuet in G Minor, BWV Anh. 115 (Arr. by Christian Petzold):
• 10 Bach: Notenbüchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach, Minuet in G Minor, BWV Anh. 115 (Arr. by Christian Petzold) 02:20
• Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude in C Minor, BWV 847:
• 11 Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude in C Minor, BWV 847 06:10
• Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude in E Major, BWV 854:
• 12 Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude in E Major, BWV 854 05:05
• Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude in D Major, BWV 850:
• 13 Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I, Prelude in D Major, BWV 850 04:39
• Total Runtime 58:32

Info for J. S. Bach: Illuminations - Improvisations on Bach

When I look back, my childhood was filled with dance at bal evenings in my parents’ café, le Café du Village, where I also danced to my uncles’ accordion and drums. In reality. My first act of adolescence was discovering Bach instead of the rock bands my peers loved, sparking a decades-long quest for musical beauty. During my studies in Copenhagen, I immersed myself in contemporary accordion music, and the urge to improvise grew, leading to collaborations with jazz musicians. In parallel, dance re-emerged through my work with contemporary ballet troupes. It prompted me to experiment even more with improvisation. This project, “Illuminations”, weaves together all these various musical experiences, featuring surprises and improvisations based on Bach’s works. I reinterpret his music with modern elements and insights, ultimately reconciling with the music of my youth. So the spontaneity and sense of fun that I knew in childhood are back in a new form in “Illuminations”.

Philippe Thuriot, accordion

Philippe Thuriot
The Belgian accordionist has been playing on the international stage for 30 years. After graduating at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen under Mogens Ellegaards supervision, his career took a high flight. He toured with Les Ballets C de la B, the international dance company of Alain Platel, performing La Tristeza Complice (1996) and Pitié (2008) throughout Europe, the USA, Brazil and Congo. Philippe Thuriot was invited to play with orchestras like Oxalys, Het Collectief (Reinbert De Leeuw), Il Gardellino, Ictus, De koninklijke muntschouwburg, Klangforum Wien, Symphonieorkest Vlaanderen, Brussels Jazz Orchestra and WDR jazz orchestra. Various composers wrote an accordion concerto especially for Thuriot: Dick Van der Harst, Peter Vermeersch and Dirk D’ase (in the Wiener Conzert-Verein).

In 2015 he recorded the Goldberg Variations by J.S. Bach for the Warner Classics / Klara label. In 2018 he recorded a second solo disc with own arrangements of music by Couperin and Ravel. Both cd’s were highly praised by the international music press and received favourable reviews.

He performed at numerous international festivals such as Crete Senesi in Tuscany, in honour of the 70th birthday of Philippe Herreweghe. He also played together, amongst others, with Louis Sclavis, Ellery Eskelin, René Lussier, Uri Caine, Mark Feldman and Maria Schneider, each of them a master in the jazz scene.

Booklet for J. S. Bach: Illuminations - Improvisations on Bach