Six Cello Suites for Viola, BWV 1007-12 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Edited by Simon Rowland-Jones. Published by C.F. Peters
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a German composer of the Baroque period and widely considered one of the greatest composers in the Western canon. He carefully studied the work of his forebears and contemporaries, incorporating intricate counterpoint and harmonic innovations into a sophisticated style that represents the zenith of the Baroque tradition. Though he wrote predominantly religious music-including several passions and over 200 cantatas-he is most celebrated today for his profoundly moving instrumental music, including concertos, suites, and sonatas, including many for strings-such as his Cello Suites and Sonatas and Partitas for violin.
Bach's six suites for unaccompanied cello (BWV 1007-1012) form the bedrock of the cello repertory and are indispensable to a classical cellist's development, ranging from the intermediate level Suite No. 1 to the master level Suite No. 6. They are likewise central (in transcription form) to the viola player's repertory. This Peters edition by Simon Rowland-Jones has long been a favorite of violists. It contains the original scordatura and natural tuning for Suite No. 5 (a well as an additional embellished version of the Sarabande), Suite No. 6 in its original and transposed keys, and in-depth historical background, analyses, and performance notes for each suite. Ranges from Grade 4-6 in difficulty.
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