On my 5am walk to the train today (actually, my favorite listening times of the week, a half hour of dark, silent side streets with zero traffic) I listened to the second sonata/partita of Bach's, for the first time in years (from Sandor Vegh's amazing set). It’s the one that ends with the massive chaconne, the single greatest masterpiece for solo violin. When he records volume 2 of his set of these pieces for Nonesuch, oh man, does Chris Thile have his work cut out for him. I like his first disc a lot, not because of the novelty of hearing them on mandolin, but because Thile has a formidable musical mind (and technique like nobody else) and he delivered a Bach recording worth listening to as a serious Bach recording. But, hoo boy, what a mountain to climb. Can't wait.

December 21, 2016

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