Makoto Nakura - Bach Parallels (2020) [Official Digital Download 24/192]

“Creating new works for marimba” and “Playing works by Bach on the marimba” are the two vessels on which I have been sailing through an ocean called a concert career. Although it seems that they are two quite different areas of works, they are in fact connected in an unexpected place and that is what, I strongly believe, led me to open my eyes to the territory beyond the usual horizon. 　

When contemporary composers write new music for me, I always get deeply involved in their creative process even before they start writing the first note. Through my numerous experiences of closely observing how they use their mind and heart to compose, I have reached the point of believing that this must be the exact way that Bach created his music. This belief is the territory I mentioned and it also became the reason for which I dared to give another step forward when I interpret Bach’s music.

While creating new works together with today’s composers, I often propose my ideas or think with them of more effective ways to express their ideas on the marimba. I have frequently witnessed from this experience that not only do they have brilliant minds, but also their way of thinking is very flexible. Thanks to these valuable times together, I started feeling that I could imagine how Bach would have transcribed one of his works if he had been doing so for the marimba.

For this recording, I created a project to combine the two vessels together. I asked three composers to write pieces inspired by Bach and I have placed them in a parallel manner with Bach’s works. The first half of the disc is dedicated to variations, beginning with “Passacaglia” and the second half to preludes and fugues.

Bach’s music continues to be the source of our imagination after nearly 300 years. It was a true joy to see that this imagination bore the fruits of new music which embraces the sensitivities of our time and I am excited to hand them to the next generation. People might think of classical music as the music of the past. Rather, I would like to send a message that we are travelling in the midst of a big current of classical music which pulsates as living music.

TRACKLIST

1. Makoto Nakura - Passacaglia in C Minor, BWV 582 for six percussionists
2. Makoto Nakura - Bach Echoes for Grand Vibraphone Hybrid Variations on Bach’s A minor Flute Partita BWV 1013: I. Allemande
3. Makoto Nakura - Bach Echoes for Grand Vibraphone Hybrid Variations on Bach’s A minor Flute Partita BWV 1013: II. Corrente
4. Makoto Nakura - Bach Echoes for Grand Vibraphone Hybrid Variations on Bach’s A minor Flute Partita BWV 1013: III. Sarabande
5. Makoto Nakura - Bach Echoes for Grand Vibraphone Hybrid Variations on Bach’s A minor Flute Partita BWV 1013: IV. Bourée Anglaise
6. Makoto Nakura - Chorale “Christ ist erstanden, BWV 276”
7. Makoto Nakura - Variations on a Bach Chorale for solo marimba
8. Makoto Nakura - From “Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011”: Prelude (for solo bass marimba)
9. Makoto Nakura - From “Well Tempered Clavier: Book II” for two marimbists Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 884
10. Makoto Nakura - From “Well Tempered Clavier: Book II” for two marimbists Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 889
11. Makoto Nakura - Prelude and Fugue for solo marimba: E-flat Minor
12. Makoto Nakura - Prelude and Fugue for solo marimba: D-flat Major



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