Nonesuch Records releases an album of three Bach works recorded by mandolin virtuoso and MacArthur Fellow Chris Thile on August 6, 2013. Bach: Sonatas and Partitas, Vol. 1 comprises three works written for solo violin: Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001; Partita No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002; and Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003. Thile will perform works by Bach in solo recitals this fall; see below for details. The albumâwhich was produced by Thileâs friend, mentor, and frequent collaborator, the double bassist and composer Edgar Meyerâis available for pre-order now in the Nonesuch Store and punchbrothers.com. Pre-orders come with an instant download of Fuga: Allegro from Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, BWV 1001 (which you can preview below)Â and an exclusive print of the album art by Oliver Jeffers, the first 500 of which will be signed by Thile.

Thile explains his connection to the composer: âBach was my first meaningful experience withâfor lack of a better wordâclassical music. It was the second recording of Glenn Gould playing the Goldberg Variations. Gould plays with the kind of rhythmic integrity that I had previously only associated with non-classical music: music with a groove, with a pocket, that made you move. Gould was playing that music like my heroes play fiddle tunes. It humanized the whole thing for me and the heavens opened up and Bach came down. I started devouring all the Bach I could get my hands on.â

He continues, âThis record to me is not about this iconic violin music played on the mandolinâlike, âOh boy, what fun, heâs playing a weird instrument!â It's about Bach being one of the greatest musicians of all time, the solo violin music being some of his best work, and the mandolin having the potential to cast it in a new and hopefully interesting light."

Chris Thile, whom Londonâs Independent calls âthe most remarkable mandolinist in the world,â is the founding member and lead vocalist of Punch Brothers. With broad influences including progressive bluegrass, classical, rock, and jazz, Thile transcends the borders of conventionally circumscribed genres, creating a distinctly American canon and a new musical aesthetic. Thile will be touring this summer with Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, and Edgar Meyer, with whom he released last yearâs The Goat Rodeo Sessions, which won two Grammys in 2013. See below for tour dates; for additional details and tickets, visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.

As a soloist, Thile has released five previous albums. In 2011, Nonesuch Records released the Grammyânominated Sleep with One Eye Open, an album of duets with guitarist Michael Daves. Thile has also collaborated with a pantheon of musical innovators from multiple genres including BÃ©la Fleck, Brad Mehldau, and Hilary Hahn. For more than 15 years, Thile played in the wildly popular band Nickel Creek, with which he released three albums, sold two million records, and was awarded a Grammy.

The New Yorkerâs Alec Wilkinson said of Punch Brothers: âeach musician has a deep command of his instrument â¦ their technique and specific sensibilities have given Punch Brothers a sound that is strikingly coherent and singular, even if they havenât yet settled on a genre â¦ Each of the musicians â¦ plays with grace, thoughtfulness, and force to a degree that is not duplicated by any band I am aware of.â Their latest album, the critically acclaimed Whoâs Feeling Young Now?, was released in 2012 on Nonesuch Records.

CHRISÂ THILE ON TOUR

Jun 20 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Telluride, CO solo

Jun 21 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Telluride, CO w/ Punch Brothers

Jun 23 Telluride Bluegrass Festival: NightGrass Telluride, CO w/ Punch Brothers

Jun 28 Old St. Pat's World's Largest Block Part Chicago, IL w/ Punch Brothers

Jun 29 ROMP Bluegrass Festival Owensboro, KY w/ Punch Brothers

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Jul 20 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival Oak Hill, NY w/ Michael Daves

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Aug 15 Tanglewood Lenox, MA w/ The Goat Rodeo Sessions

Aug 16 Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Bethel, NY w/ The Goat Rodeo Sessions

Aug 18 Ravinia Highland Park, IL w/ The Goat Rodeo Sessions

Aug 20 PNC Pavilion Cincinnati, OH w/ The Goat Rodeo Sessions

Aug 21 Meadow Brook Music Festival Rochester Hills, MI w/ The Goat Rodeo Sessions

Aug 23 Weill Hall and Lawn, Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA w/ The Goat Rodeo Sessions

Aug 24 Greek Theatre Berkeley, CA w/ The Goat Rodeo Sessions

Aug 25 Hollywood Bowl Hollywood, CA w/ The Goat Rodeo Sessions

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Sep 7 Interlocken Music Festival Arrington, VA w/ Punch Brothers

Sep 27 Wide Open Bluegrass Festival Raleigh, NC w/ Punch Brothers

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Oct 1 Meany Hall for the Performing Arts Seattle, WA solo

Oct 5 Newman Center for the Performing Arts Denver, CO solo

Oct 12 The Festy Experience Roseland, VA w/ Michael Daves

Oct 15 Pick-Staiger Concert Hall Evanston, IL solo

Oct 16 Sheldon Concert Hall St. Louis, MO solo

Oct 18 Rackham Auditorium Ann Arbor, MI solo

Oct 20 Sanders Theater Cambridge, MA solo

Oct 22 Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall New York, NY solo

Oct 23 Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Philadelphia, PA solo

Oct 24 Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University Princeton, NJ solo

Oct 25 Koerner Hall, Royal Conservatory Toronto, ON solo

Oct 27 Massry Center for the Arts, College of Saint Rose Albany, NY solo

Oct 29 Memorial Hall, UNC Chapel Hill, NC solo

Nov 1 University Auditorium, University of Florida Gainesville, FL solo

Nov 2 Emerson Concert Hall, Emory University Atlanta, GA solo

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Nov 6 The Queen's Hall Edinburgh, UK solo

Nov 8 LSO St. Luke's London, UK solo