J.S. Bach - Suite II in A minor, The Complete Bach Edition for Double Bass
Suite II in A minor from the Complete Bach Edition for Double Bass. 33 pages, available as a pdf file.
After studying the Barenreiter edition of Bach’s cello suites, I realized that there are no editions for the double bass that meets our current standards for performing these works. Since these pieces have become standard repertoire to perform (and required for most orchestral auditions in the US), it’s important that a reliable edition is available to players.
As no manuscript survives in Bach’s own hand, it’s hard to point to any single manuscript as being a definitive source for an Urtext edition of the cello suites. This edition has three parts. The first part is a blank copy of the music, so that it’s easy to write in whatever markings the player wishes to put in. The second part is a literal interpretation of the Anna Magdalena Bach manuscript’s bowings for the player to look over and includes the manuscript to compare. The third part has bowings that are a combination of the manuscripts by Johann Peter Kellner and Anna Magdalena Bach and includes the manuscript by Kellner. Studying the two sets of bowings from the manuscripts gives players a variety of possibilities for performance.
This edition gives the following advantages to players:
-There are no changes from the original cello part, including chords. Many editions are riddled with wrong notes, but this edition has been carefully prepared so that there are no errors. With any note discrepancies that exist between manuscripts, I’ve gone with what the Anna Magdalena Bach manuscript shows believing that this manuscript is closest to Bach’s original intensions. Past editions transcribed for the double bass almost always contain simplified chords so that they work better on the bass. I’ve left this up to the performer to decide what they wish to do.
-Every key that’s considered a standard option for performing the cello suites on the double bass has been covered (even the 5th and 6th suites at pitch are included).
-Only treble and bass clef are used, so there are no issues with tenor clef.
-Each movement is laid out so there are no problems with page turns.
If anyone wishes to have an edition of a suite prepared in a different key, I’m happy to make a transposition that meets your needs. Please visit my contact page for more information.
Suite II in A minor from the Complete Bach Edition for Double Bass. 33 pages, available as a pdf file.
After studying the Barenreiter edition of Bach’s cello suites, I realized that there are no editions for the double bass that meets our current standards for performing these works. Since these pieces have become standard repertoire to perform (and required for most orchestral auditions in the US), it’s important that a reliable edition is available to players.
As no manuscript survives in Bach’s own hand, it’s hard to point to any single manuscript as being a definitive source for an Urtext edition of the cello suites. This edition has three parts. The first part is a blank copy of the music, so that it’s easy to write in whatever markings the player wishes to put in. The second part is a literal interpretation of the Anna Magdalena Bach manuscript’s bowings for the player to look over and includes the manuscript to compare. The third part has bowings that are a combination of the manuscripts by Johann Peter Kellner and Anna Magdalena Bach and includes the manuscript by Kellner. Studying the two sets of bowings from the manuscripts gives players a variety of possibilities for performance.
This edition gives the following advantages to players:
-There are no changes from the original cello part, including chords. Many editions are riddled with wrong notes, but this edition has been carefully prepared so that there are no errors. With any note discrepancies that exist between manuscripts, I’ve gone with what the Anna Magdalena Bach manuscript shows believing that this manuscript is closest to Bach’s original intensions. Past editions transcribed for the double bass almost always contain simplified chords so that they work better on the bass. I’ve left this up to the performer to decide what they wish to do.
-Every key that’s considered a standard option for performing the cello suites on the double bass has been covered (even the 5th and 6th suites at pitch are included).
-Only treble and bass clef are used, so there are no issues with tenor clef.
-Each movement is laid out so there are no problems with page turns.
If anyone wishes to have an edition of a suite prepared in a different key, I’m happy to make a transposition that meets your needs. Please visit my contact page for more information.
Suite II in A minor from the Complete Bach Edition for Double Bass. 33 pages, available as a pdf file.
After studying the Barenreiter edition of Bach’s cello suites, I realized that there are no editions for the double bass that meets our current standards for performing these works. Since these pieces have become standard repertoire to perform (and required for most orchestral auditions in the US), it’s important that a reliable edition is available to players.
As no manuscript survives in Bach’s own hand, it’s hard to point to any single manuscript as being a definitive source for an Urtext edition of the cello suites. This edition has three parts. The first part is a blank copy of the music, so that it’s easy to write in whatever markings the player wishes to put in. The second part is a literal interpretation of the Anna Magdalena Bach manuscript’s bowings for the player to look over and includes the manuscript to compare. The third part has bowings that are a combination of the manuscripts by Johann Peter Kellner and Anna Magdalena Bach and includes the manuscript by Kellner. Studying the two sets of bowings from the manuscripts gives players a variety of possibilities for performance.
This edition gives the following advantages to players:
-There are no changes from the original cello part, including chords. Many editions are riddled with wrong notes, but this edition has been carefully prepared so that there are no errors. With any note discrepancies that exist between manuscripts, I’ve gone with what the Anna Magdalena Bach manuscript shows believing that this manuscript is closest to Bach’s original intensions. Past editions transcribed for the double bass almost always contain simplified chords so that they work better on the bass. I’ve left this up to the performer to decide what they wish to do.
-Every key that’s considered a standard option for performing the cello suites on the double bass has been covered (even the 5th and 6th suites at pitch are included).
-Only treble and bass clef are used, so there are no issues with tenor clef.
-Each movement is laid out so there are no problems with page turns.
If anyone wishes to have an edition of a suite prepared in a different key, I’m happy to make a transposition that meets your needs. Please visit my contact page for more information.