There has always been controversy over whether the lute works of the cantor of St Thomas were really intended for the lute. They were considered unplayable – just as the sonatas for solo violin once were. The alleged unplayable quality of the pieces came about primarily as a result of the fact that they were originally intended for a keyboard instrument – the Lautenwerk.

But there is another solution: on this CD, the internationally renowned lutenist Joachim Held performs Bach’s original lute works on the lute. Unplayable? Hard to imagine, because Bach knew the capabilities of this instrument, even had one in his home, where the most prominent lute virtuosos of his time came to visit.

On this recording, Joachim Held brings these long-neglected works back to life.