Chris Thile, the undisputed king of bluegrass mandolin,
might raise eyebrows by presenting his first volume of Bach’s Sonatas and
Partitas. Bach by Hillbilly….audacity? Hubris?
Mr. Thile approaches this music with the humility of an
acolyte, without the baggage of traditions, mannerisms or preconceptions, and with
the assurance of a star whose mission is to make people happy.
From some of our greatest violinists we have been trained to
expect weighty, ponderous, even turgid interpretations; the heavier the more
‘meaningful’, so it is astonishing to hear this music played clear-eyed and
fleet of foot.
No small part of Mr. Thile’s mastery is turning the limitations
of his instrument to his advantage. Dwelling more on unforced dynamics, he
could be addressing each of us individually. His judicious forte contrasts are
oddly grand yet still intimate.
The Sicilienne from the G minor Sonata suits wonderfully the
mandolin we associate with strolling, though in the Adagio he is not quite able
to sustain the illusion of the legato. The slow movements of the B minor Partita
and A minor Sonata are poignantly expressed in achingly sweet tones, dulcet and
crystalline, with earnest unfettered phrasing. A trace of Mr. Thile’s
background adds a delicious taste of earthiness – the well-placed twangs here
and there, or the opening strummed chords of the a minor andante conjuring a
sense of slow blues. The preceding Fugue
is marvelous, and all the fast movements were consistently excellent, virile
and propulsive.
If at times we wonder that we might lose this artist in his
flights of fancy, he lands, beaming, at our feet, impeccable, with a flourish
of his feathered cap over his heart.
This the first review in a long time that actually made me want to hear these performances - kudos.
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