34An Eastern influence has become very strong for many people in the West. Meditation and other things have implanted themselves into Western culture and I think the situation with modern music is just the same. In any case, you can pair Bach with so many things it's almost as if he clarifies the pieces you play him with.34 Thomas Demenga, The Strad POne of the distinguishing trademarks of ECM New Series is the bringing together of the old and the new. Swiss cellist Thomas Demenga has continued to play a major role on the label, since its very beginning, with such inspired programming. This double album completes an exceptional series of recordings spanning 15 years on the label juxtaposing Bach's cello suites with various modern compositions. In this final set he programmes Bach's Suite No. 6 with compositions by the late Korean composer Isang Yun and Suite No. 5 with works by Yun's Japanese pupil Toshio Hosokawa. Having worked with both Yun and Hosokawa, Demenga understands their musical philosophies: their work explores the interpenetration of Eastern and Western musical thought and, from the juxtapositions on this recording, we can learn at lot about the music of the world. We are also reminded of just how 34modern34 the music of Bach is. PDemenga is joined by worldclass chamber partners in the Yun and Hosokawa pieces: Heinz Holliger, Thomas Larcher, Aurèle Nicolet, Hansheinz Schneeberger and Teodoro Anzellotti are some of the most highlyregarded performers in contemporary music, and all have appeared on ECM New Series albums. PRecorded 1985, 1998 and 2000 PPersonnel: BRThomas Demenga cello, Teodoro Anzellotti accordion, Asako Urushihara, Hansheinz Schneeberger violin, Aurèle Nicolet flute, Heinz Holliger oboe, Thomas Larcher piano