This work, in its original form, is revered and treasured by violinists and audiences worldwide.

Up until the mid-1970’s, the arrangement for solo piano by Busoni was also extremely popular with pianists and audiences worldwide -- to where it seemed that no solo piano recital programme in the U.S. or Europe began with anything else but the Chaconne.

Unfortunately, by the early 1980’s, the discussion as to the authenticity and validity of piano transcriptions led to its decline in use.

I’m grateful to acknowledge seeing the piece being picked up once more as it makes a wonderful statement on the inevitability of change and personal transformation while conforming to Bach’s original intent in soundscape.

The piano version is, in this writer’s opinion, equal in scope to the original, making the same gestures and, when done with more dignity than virtuosity fueled ego, achieving the same mesmerizing effect on the audience.

Bolet’s playing is so unaffected and direct that the music’s intent can do nothing but silence the mind and incline it towards those thoughts beyond the normal daily round.

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