J.S. Bach BWV 998, 1003, 1010 by Daniel Lippel

He has been honored to be given the opportunity to give masterclasses and lecture recitals on guitar composition at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music, University of Texas at Austin, and University of North Texas. Lippel won first prizes in the Stafford (England) Guitar Competition, ASTA Competition, and Boston Guitar Society's Guitar Competition. Mr. Lippel has premiered and recorded several solo and chamber works by established and emerging composers. He performs actively with new music ensembles (Flexible Music and Irving Lippel Project) as well as non-classical ensembles (Zvi Migdal Tango Ensemble, Bubblecore Records' Mice Parade), and has toured the United States, Western Europe, and Japan. Mr. Lippel was on faculty teaching classical guitar at Bowling Green State University from 1999-2001. He is currently completing his dissertation in pursuit of a doctoral degree at the Manhattan School of Music, under the guidance of David Starobin. Lippel's former teachers include Jason Vieaux, Ricardo Iznaola, John Homquist, David Leisner, Steve Aron, and Nicholas Goluses.

Various reviews:

The Gramophone- under Best New Releases from North America

"These performances definitely have a live feel, though there's no sense of the facile- only depth caught on the wing. Sometimes Lippel dwells indulgently in the moment, as in the Grave of the A minor Sonata or the Sarabande of the A major Suite; at other times the music is allowed to flow naturally, as in the final movements of those works. Looseness and tension are fluently articulated within a flexible, expressive framework. An impressive release, then. Not a definitive statement- nor is it meant to be. Full marks to Lippel for daring to show a little humanity."

William Yeomen, Gramophone, May 2006

"The young and much-lauded guitarist Daniel Lippel delves into the music of Johann Sebastian Bach for this release on Focus Recordings. The follow-up to 2004’s Resonance, this disc features three works by the late baroque master: the second of the three sonatas for unaccompanied violin, the fourth of the six suites for unaccompanied cello, and the Prelude, Fugue and Allegro BWV 998. The first two works are presented in Lippel’s own transcriptions, which is certainly appreciated. I did not fully know what to expect from this CD, being familiar only with Lippel’s work with contemporary music. This album, however, is a success. For starters, Lippel pays attention to rhythm, an issue which, if not dealt with closely, can doom so many performances of great compositions. His sound throughout the program is solid and attractive, and the recording quality is above par. This disc shines through as a fine example of how fresh J.S. Bach’s music can sound when infused with sufficient creativity and vitality."

-Matthew Hough, Guitar Review Summer 2006 Issue #132

"Daniel Lippel realized the demanding score with precision and expressivity."

Michael Cameron, Chicago Tribune, January 17, 2005

"The piece opened with an extended section for guitar only, hectic and vigorous, shifting from metallic fury to weary calm. When electronic sounds began to emerge, Lippel's meticulous phrasing and penetrating tone seemed to soften and relax. His guitar line sounded more expansive, somehow taking comfort in the companionship of the resonant electronic oscillations and gentle whistles."

Wynne Delacoma, Chicago Sun Times, January 16, 2005

"Daniel Lippel is a New York-based guitarist, who is intensely committed to challenging contemporary music. Much of the music [on Resonance] is extremely demanding for the guitarist and I can't imagine it being better played."

Goran Forsling, Music Web International, May 2005

"Lippel's playing on the Davidovsky is intense and well articulated, emphasizing the angular nature of the phrasing. The fine performances and well-balanced program make this disc [Resonance] a standout and definitely worth purchasing."

James Hanna, Guitar Review, Spring 2005

"Well this is a treat. Guitarist Daniel Lippel has put together a wonderful CD featuring works by Mario Davidovsky, Nils Vigeland, Elliott Carter, Soonjung Suh, Judah E. Adashi, and Peter Gilbert. Whether he's rippling through Carter or chilling out with Vigeland, Lippel's playing is consistently convincing and leaves little to be desired. He's as technically sound as anyone could possibly want, and his musicality makes everything sound as natural as improvisation. "Resonance" may be a little difficult to find, but it's definitely worth the search."

David Salvage, Sequenza21.com, February 14, 2005

"Guitarist Daniel Lippel has self-released a CD which shows off the wide range of his abilities. His plush sound and fluent technique lie at the heart of his playing as a constant, but he finds a different voice when he needs it. His Bach and Takemitsu are not at all the same even though they share his general approach to music making. It would be most difficult to pin down a favorite work on this CD; they are all so different, each one from a different period.

The Bach has a limpid clarity of line which one must have to make Bach work. Yet there is nothing rigid sounding in Lippel's phrasing.

Elegy is well sustained by Lippel, capturing the intimacy of the sadness in a single guitar, yet expanding grief beyond that single focus in the resonance of the instrument.

This is another CD which should be added to the shopping list."

Paul Somers, Classical New Jersey Society Journal

Average Customer Review: 5