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Classical Album of the Week: Scottish Guitarist Sean Shibe Plays Bach

January 4, 2021. Prelude, Fugue, and Allegro in E-flat major, BWV 998, is a musical composition by Johann Sebastian Bach, intended for either lute or harpsichord. But Bach was constantly re-inventing his music for different instruments, and on this disc guitarist Sean Shibe gives us an elegant demonstration of how well-suited this work is to the classical guitar.

The piece dates from Bach's maturity, probably the final decade of his life. And though historically it’s been regarded as a lute piece, Bach’s manuscript bears the title Prelude pour la Luth ò Cembal, which would certainly allow for some ambiguity.

This disk is a worthy addition to the Bach library, with Shibe’s fluid playing and warm tone always in service to Bach’s contrapuntal lines. There is joy and sweetness here, and such assurance in Shibe’s playing that he may be answering the question pour la luth ò cembal? in the most effective way possible!

Gregg was the host of WRTI's morning drive show from 2012 until his retirement from WRTI in January, 2021. He began producing and hosting The Philadelphia Orchestra In Concert broadcasts in 2013, joining the Orchestra in Hong Kong for the first-ever live international radio broadcasts from that island in 2016, and in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for two historic broadcasts in 2018. You can still hear Gregg as host of the Orchestra broadcasts every Sunday and Monday on WRTI.