Xenia Jankovic J S Bach Suite No 5 in C minor, BWV 1011

Prélude: 0:00 Allemande: 6:27 Courante: 12:20 Sarabande: 14:20 Gavotte I: 18:49 Gavotte II und Gavotte I Da Capo: 21:12 Gigue: 23:44 Bach Cello Suites - my dream These films of the Bach Cello Suites were made in the Church of St. George in Staro Nagoricane, North Macedonia. Built in the 14th century, this church is considered one of the finest examples of Christian churches of its time and is situated on the border between Macedonia and Serbia. As a child I visited many old and beautiful churches in former Yugoslavia with my father, who was a choral conductor and a great admirer of the fresco art. The atmosphere of orthodox monasteries and churches like Studenica, Sopocani or Staro Nagoricane, as well the sound of the choral music which I heard there, stayed in my heart and had a profound influence on my imagination and experience of art and music in general. When I first started to play Bach at the age of 7, I imagined playing it in these churches. I immediately sensed (and learned about) the deep connection which Bach's music has to religion and the bible. For me, this world was in these churches. The powerful and colourful frescos would come to life and could speak to me. This was in 1960s and 70s during the communist era; I lived in Belgrade and Moscow, where any connection to religion and the church had to be hidden. Even in the last 30 years, I faced another problem in my wish to play Bach in one of these churches: that the Orthodox Church forbids instrumental music; only singing is allowed. After several unsuccessful attempts I had to accept that this was impossible, but still held on to the dream of doing so one day. Finally, miraculously, it became possible for me to record in this church - just for a single day! I feel extremely lucky and grateful that I was able to get permission to record these films in one day in the exceptional Church of St. George in Staro Nagoricane. The limitation of one day and one church turned out to be just right for this project. In the films we see always the same church and frescos, but at different times of the day and with changing atmospheres inside, according to the character of the particular suite. To me personally, each fresco has many layers and varied meanings, which gradually came to me through seeing and experiencing them in different periods of my life. In listening to the music and seeing the images in this film it is not necessary to know which fresco is shown and why; the approach could be more like that of the Orthodox church service - simply emotional surrender. Nevertheless, I would like to share some of my personal contemplations and associations (in brackets are the choices of images and frescos): I see Johann Sebastian Bach’s Six Suites a violoncello solo senza basso as representing the different stages of life, highlighting the transition from youth to maturity. The choice and order of keys, added to textures of growing complexity, seem to divide the set into a symmetrical diptych: G major, D minor, C major; and E flat major, C minor, D major. The last three suites, gaining in length and complexity, lead us to a loftier spiritual horizon: ° The Fourth Suite in E flat major opens on the mature years, on the wisdom of life that offers a profound, universal outlook. The nobility of this work reaches an elevated plane that gives faith in life, age 30-40. Prelude: Maturity, complexity (Church in warm colours, Cross) Allemande: Transmissions of wisdom (Inscription on the west entrance, holy scripts) Courante: Uplifting stories of Saints (Holy Saints and Martyrs) Sarabande: Wonder, love (Virgin with child, Jesus on the Cross) Bourreé I: Endurance (Saint George’s endurance and glorification of Lord) Bourreé II: Mystery (mysterious signs) Gigue: Mature strength and joy (Cross, Church, Nature) ° The C minor key of the Fifth Suite immerses us in the dark world of tragedy, of human grief, the world of the Pietà and the Lamentation of Christ, age 40-50. Prelude: Gravity of life, lights in the dark (church at night, moon, Crucifixion) Allemande: Meaning of Sacrifice (Christ on Cross with two thieves, Crucifixion) Courante: Doubting (Road to Golgotha) Sarabande: Grief and gratitude (Crucifixion) Gavotte I: Community (Holy Communion) Gavotte II: Devotion (Virgin with child) Gigue: Gravely strong (Holy Saints and Martyrs)