Cello Suites (Bach)
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The Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello, acclaimed as some of the greatest works ever written for solo cello, were composed by Johann Sebastian Bach during 1717 - 1723 when he served as a Kapellmeister in Cöthen. It is reputed that the pieces were originally intended to be etudes.
Unlike Bach's violin sonatas, no original manuscripts survive, thus ruling out the use of an Urtext edition. However, analysis of secondary sources—such as a hand-written copy by Bach's second wife, Anna Magdalena—have produced a passably authentic edition, although critically deficient in the placement of slurs. As a result, many interpretations of the suites exist, with no singularly accepted version.
The six suites were not widely known before the 1900s. Pablo Casals, though, is credited for spurring the popularity of the piece. After discovering a copy of the manuscript (hand-written by Anna Magdalena) in a thrift shop, Casals began performing it. However, it would be 35 years after he first discovered the manuscript before Casals would agree to record the pieces. Soon after, it took off in popularity. Today, it has been transcribed for various instruments, such as the viola, double bass, piano, guitar, trombone and trumpet. In addition, the piece was performed by cellist Yo-Yo Ma at the one year anniversary of September 11th at New York City.
Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007
Although this suite is called "number one" it is not clear if it was indeed the first written.
The suite is in six movements:
The Prelude, mainly made up of arpeggiated chords, is well known and is regulary heard on television and in film.
Template:Classical-composition-stubde:Suiten für Violoncello solo ja:無伴奏チェロ組曲