Johann Sebastian Bach - The Cello Suites, for Guitar (Eliot Fisk)

Information

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

• Cello Suites Nos. 1–6, BWV 1007–1012

Eliot Fisk, guitar & arrangements

Date: 2026

Label: IBS Classical

_____________________

Eliot Fisk presents his own transcriptions of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Six Suites for Solo Cello, BWV 1007–1012, recorded at Gordon Hall in Watertown, Massachusetts. Originally composed during Bach’s Köthen years, these suites are landmarks of instrumental writing, blending counterpoint, harmony, and rhythm within the framework of Baroque dance forms. Fisk’s transcriptions, informed by over thirty years of engagement and inspired by Bach’s own lute adaptations, adapt the suites to the guitar’s tonal palette while preserving their structural and expressive depth. His performances reveal new textures and resonances, offering an intimate and thoughtful interpretation of these timeless masterpieces.

Eliot Fisk (born 1954) is a renowned classical guitarist, celebrated for his virtuosic repertoire, adventurous transcriptions, and innovative cross-genre collaborations. A direct pupil of Andres Segovia and a graduate of Yale University, Fisk has transformed the guitar repertoire through transcriptions of works by Bach, Scarlatti, Mozart, and many others, while inspiring composers such as Luciano Berio, Robert Beaser, and Nicholas Maw to write new works for him. He has performed with leading orchestras, chamber ensembles, and international festivals, collaborating with artists across classical, jazz, flamenco, and contemporary music. Fisk is Professor at Universität Mozarteum Salzburg and the New England Conservatory and founder of Boston GuitarFest and the Salzburg Guitar Fest.