Guilderland Library Notes for Friday, September 9, 2016

On Sunday, Sept. 18, at 2 p.m., virtuoso guitarist, musicologist, and author Steven Hancoff will give a very special multimedia presentation on Johann Sebastian Bach entitled “From Tragedy to Transcendence: Bach, Casals, and the Six Suites for Cello Solo.”

Using music, video, and hundreds of historic images and spectacular contemporary art, Hancoff presents a concert-length story about the life of Bach, the creation of his masterful cello suites, the role of Felix Mendelssohn in resurrecting the music, and cellist Pablo Casals’ rediscovery and recording of the suites.  

A reviewer in Classical Guitar Magazine writes that Hancoff’s program “blends music, videos, and well over a thousand still images — like a Ken Burns documentary gone wild! — into a vivid and compelling tapestry of history, stories, ruminations, and fascinating tangents that grow like vines off the main Bach saga.”

Other reviewers are equally effusive in their praise of Mr. Hancoff’s work:

We are very lucky to be a site for Mr. Hancoff’s current tour. This moving, mesmerizing story of one of music’s great geniuses is a very special program you will not want to miss!

This is a ticketed event. Tickets are free; limit of four per person. Please pick up tickets at the library’s adult reference desk. For more information, please visit www.guilpl.org/bachtranscendence