Masahiro Masuda’s 20th solo album and 30th anniversary commemorative CD project features a complete recording of J.S. Bach’s greatest masterpiece, the “Six Cello Suites.” As the first installment of this project, this CD contains the first three suites: No. 1 (BWV 1007), No. 2 (BWV 1008), and No. 3 (BWV 1009).

Completed during J.S. Bach’s tenure as Kapellmeister at the Köthen court (1717–23), the complete six “Unaccompanied Cello Suites” (BWV 1007–12) combine originality, high refinement, rational structure, and rich emotion, remaining widely revered works to this day.

Masahiro Masuda, one of Japan’s top guitarists, approaches Bach’s music with sincere devotion while boldly employing techniques like key transpositions to maximize the guitar’s unique characteristics. This album truly represents the pinnacle of Bach performed on guitar.

This series, covering all six suites, is the first by a Japanese guitarist since Kazuhito Yamashita, a fellow native of Masuda’s hometown. It is an essential listen, continuing the lineage of genius. Though not originally written for classical guitar, these pieces have become invaluable repertoire for guitarists. Masahiro has crafted performances that honor Bach’s “musical language” as closely as possible, examining Baroque stylistic elements, dance characteristics, articulation, and cello bowing techniques. His approach achieves a perfect balance between the significance of performing these works on guitar and showcasing their inherent brilliance.

Masahiro Masuda(Guitar)
fontec●FOCD9697／￥2,400(+tax) ／2021.2.3発売
June 17~19 2020　Jcom Urayasu Music Hall
Guitar: Santos Hernandez 1939
Distributed by ：FONTEC co. Ltd