Johann Sebastian Bach

3 piano transcriptions by Emile Naoumoff

Bach transcriptions have always been popular for the musical brilliance of the Baroque master opens up a vast field, for composers and performers. Even the pianist and composer Emile Naoumoff who began his career at the age of 8, composed a piano concerto at the age of 10 and played it under the direction of Yehudi Menuhin is an expert and great admirer of Bach's music.The present edition contains no virtuoso 'fireworks music' but unites three slow, meditative pieces: 'O Mensch bewein dein Sünde groß' (Orgelbüchlein), the aria 'Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben' (St. Matthew's Passion), and the arioso 'Betrachte, meine Seel', mit ängstlichem Vergnügen' (St. John's Passion), demanding from the performer the pianistic realisation of subtle polyphony and the development of a very refined sound.