“I’ve loved Johann Sebastian Bach’s transcendently beautiful music all my life, but as a non-classically-trained steel-string guitarist and mandolinist I assumed for years that actually performing any of his work myself was out of the question. Then I acquired my first vintage Gibson mandolin, and vaguely remembered that Bach had composed for unaccompanied violin and for unaccompanied cello…and thought, that should be possible on mandolin, maybe I could learn one or two short pieces…and one thing led to another…”

Since their rediscovery in the late 19th century by legendary cellist Pablo Casals, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Suites for Solo Cello have been celebrated as unquestioned masterpieces of the Baroque era, in the repertoire of virtually every cellist as well as being adapted for viola, string bass, lute, harp, classical guitar, electric guitar, marimba and even trumpet…but never before has the complete cycle been recorded on mandolin. Now, Robin explores the boundless beauty and emotion of the Suites and their ethereal lightness when transposed from cello to mandolin, and the result is nothing short of magical: a feast of otherworldly music overheard from some mysterious, enchanted realm. This year, Robin has released an album of the first three Suites, performed on Gibson mandolins from 1920, 1921 and 1909 respectively. Volume two will follow with Suites four through six.