Sarah Cunningham and Richard Egarr at Paul Hall

Photos by Jubal Battisti & Matthew Murphy, http://www.nybaroque.org

Next week Sarah Cunningham and Richard Egarr are recording numerous Bach sonatas and suites, transcribed for viola da gamba and harpsichord, so tonight they practiced by giving a concert at Paul Hall. Sarah made the point that the pursuit of Lutheran contrapuntal strictness and the elusive "authentic"interpretation misses Bach's fundamental use of improvisation and transcription. So she followed his example and translated some of his most familiar work, music we have all heard played on the organ, in concertii, and as solos for various instruments, for performance by Viola da Gamba and harpsichord. The result entranced the audience for over two hours in a delicate, gentle yet exciting display of virtuosity, Sarah, stooped, with her tongue out, grimacing, and Richard raising his eyebrows and sometimes looking startled at the sounds which emerged. They concluded with the famous Sonata in G Minor BVW 1029, written for organ, in which the Viola da Gamba played the right hand and the harpsichord played the left hand (on the right hand) and the foot (on the left hand). People gasped but not as much as the performers who seemed to be relieved when it was over.