Bach Prelude from Cello Suite

[BadBass]

Anyone got the proper transcription for it? I have it for bass trombone, an octave down. I want to do it for a performance soon, and I want the proper one.. like John Patitucci An octave up... If not, I guess I will have to use my brain, for a change!?
Cheers,
Matt


And, if you do have it, please could you email me at matthew.denney@tesco.net

[Otso]

You mean this one?

Here's the sheet music for cello. (It's a PDF file)

[mvw356]

the link doesn't work.

I just fiished with the chromatic fantasy and now i'm looking for a new challange, so subscribed

[NickyBass]

I'm not sure where the bass trombone lies on the staff, but I would imagine that the range you are talking about would be in Tenor or Treble clef - So, it might be easier to just read the trombone score up an octave.

[BassChuck]

I've been working on the Bach Cello Suites for many years, you never really outgrown them.

The piece that you are talking about is the first movement of a 6 movement suite. There are 5 other suites that Bach wrote for Cello alone.

I do have to ask why so many bass players insist on playing this music at the written pitch. They really sounds fine as it is written. The first suite starts on the bottom line G. Cello would sound at that pitch, but bass sounds an octave lower. Why not just play it as it's written? I bought a book once that had these suites 'transcribed' for bass. All they did was write them up an octave, and the note are then so high that most of the book is in tenor or treble clef.

Another question is, why not take this piece up a step and play it in A? That way you have the use of the open A string as a starting note. The Cello has an open G for that note. Later on in the movement there is great advantage to having an open A and an open E string (if you are playing it in A). I think we should have at least some of the same advantages as a cellist, since we (at least on electric bass) won't be bowing the note.

[El Bajo]

But that Back transcriptions for bass, theres two out. I've got the white one which doesent come with a cd unfortunatly and the transcritions are bit iffy but it is fun to noodle.

[BassChuck]

You really don't need the cd. The suites have been recorded endlessly. If you want cello, then look for Yo Yo Ma's recording, or Pablo Casals... they would be considered the standard level of virtuoso playing and interpretation. There are MANY others too, any cellist who wants to make their mark in the world as a soloist takes the trip to the mountain and records the Cello Suites.

And... for the budget minded, just do a search on YouTube and you'll find just about every performance level in the world represented...a real zoo to be sure, but there are some gems in the middle of it all.

[Rumblestiltzkin]

Originally Posted by BassChuck

Another question is, why not take this piece up a step and play it in A?

That would make for an interesting excercise in transposition.

Although, playing it in std. tuning as written is a darn good excercise in fretting hand technique. Would be a lot easier in A though.

[BadBass]

Yes, I guess it would be in treble... so, for a performance which isn't so far away, you are suggesting I just play it at written pitch, starting bottom line G. Half way through it goes down to bottom C, and it starts to sound a bit low for a solo in this style, though very meaty I like the brightness of my top C string. I wll just persevere and play it down starting on bottom G then, and see how it sounds. If you could get that link to work though, it would be interesting to see what it looks like..
Cheers,
Matt

[Otso]

Originally Posted by BadBass

If you could get that link to work though, it would be interesting to see what it looks like..
Cheers,
Matt

http://www.imslp.org/wiki/Suites_for...n_Sebastian%29

Click the top "Download PDF" and you'll get the notation to the whole of the first suite, if that's what you're asking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74CTY9qS6II

I believe in that video he plays it an octave lower than cello.

[steve66]

Here it is in G Major

http://www.thelibster.com/bass/lib/bachgprel.php

[machine gewehr]

I have a pdf named "Bach for Bass". Its mainly for 4 string bass,and 5.7 mb.If interested,PM me your mail adresses,I'll try to send it.

Edit:Also it has both tabs and notation in F clef.

Edit 2:I uploaded it to rapid: http://rapidshare.com/files/33470228..._Bass.rar.html

[Snarf]

If that "Bach for Bass" book is the one by Josquin De Prez (not to be confused with the great Renaissance composer of masses and motets by the same name), then it also has the tab, which is endlessly annoying. I'd say find a good copy.

Also, I don't think there should be any problem with playing the cello suites as written as long as you have a nice, clear-sounding 5 string bass. Of course if the melody lingers on that B string, transposing an octave is a good thing to do.

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by BassChuck

I've been working on the Bach Cello Suites for many years, you never really outgrown them.

The piece that you are talking about is the first movement of a 6 movement suite. There are 5 other suites that Bach wrote for Cello alone.

Big +1 to the above - these are a lifetime project for sure.

Now, I'll provide some answers:

I do have to ask why so many bass players insist on playing this music at the written pitch. They really sounds fine as it is written. The first suite starts on the bottom line G. Cello would sound at that pitch, but bass sounds an octave lower. Why not just play it as it's written? I bought a book once that had these suites 'transcribed' for bass. All they did was write them up an octave, and the note are then so high that most of the book is in tenor or treble clef.

Players do this because:
a) They think it sounds better at the pitch it was composed for (this one is subjective)
b) You can't play it as written on a 4 string bass as the notes go down to C
c) Some passages are literally impossible to finger in the lower register of a 4ths tuned bass, but are manageable in the upper register where the stretch is not so far

I've played it as written on a 5 string, but there is one section in which the cello is to take advantage of the open A and play the rest of the notes "col D" - on the D string. On a 4ths tuned bass, there is no easy solution, but in the upper register with some creative fingerings you can make it work.

Another question is, why not take this piece up a step and play it in A? That way you have the use of the open A string as a starting note. The Cello has an open G for that note. Later on in the movement there is great advantage to having an open A and an open E string (if you are playing it in A). I think we should have at least some of the same advantages as a cellist, since we (at least on electric bass) won't be bowing the note.

A cellist would never play that opening G on their open G - that would be sacrilege. Transposing for bass to A doesn't even get you in the range of a 4 string, and you're going to want to avoid open strings anyway, so why bother?

[Dave Grossman]

I think that it sounds way better played an octave lower than on the Cello (IMO). The open A pedal can be transposed down an octave (additional octave) and played on the bass' open A. There are instances where Bach has done this sort of thing himself (I think he does this with the Organ transcription of the Fugue from the 1st Sonata).

http://www.jsbach.net/bass/recordings.html

I see no reason to force any Bach arrangement into its original octave when playing it on the bass. There are numerous instances where Bach has arranged his own works for other instruments and has transposed them down an octave or more.

That's not to say that I dislike or disapprove of versions played in the Cello octave. I don't think I ever even considered it when I started working on the Cello Suites over 10 years ago. I can play them all now (to varying degrees of fluency). A 6-string bass is really required to play them all without transposing sections. The 6th suite really benefits from a 7-string bass though.

- Dave

[Dave Grossman]

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

A cellist would never play that opening G on their open G - that would be sacrilege. Transposing for bass to A doesn't even get you in the range of a 4 string, and you're going to want to avoid open strings anyway, so why bother?

Actually, I think that most cellists do play the opening G on their open string. They can let it ring while playing the rest of the figures. I imitate this by holding the G down on my E string while I play the other notes.

- Dave

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by Dave Grossman

Actually, I think that most cellists do play the opening G on their open string. They can let it ring while playing the rest of the figures. I imitate this by holding the G down on my E string while I play the other notes.

- Dave

Hmm... now that I think of it you may be correct about that G. I will be sure to ask a cellist next orchestra rehearsal what they think of that

I still stand by the fact that for the most part open strings should be avoided when not being used for effect such as the pedal A or the ringing G you speak of.

[Dave Grossman]

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

I still stand by the fact that for the most part open strings should be avoided when not being used for effect such as the pedal A or the ringing G you speak of.

I agree with that, for melodic lines. For many chords open strings are often required and even desired. An open string anchoring a chord can really make it stand out. Especially on bowed instruments where chords must be arpeggiated somewhat (unless you have a Bach Bow).

- Dave

[allbasses]

I am, in fact, a bass trombonist who plays bass for a hobbie.

Bach - Sarabande from Cello Suite 5 no. 5

It is true, a 5 string bass will play this piece, as the lowest note is a low C.

http://www.yeodoug.com/resources/han...sarabande.html

Is where I got my copy. Doug Yeo is the Boston Symphony bass trombonist. He knows his cut of the cake, fairly well too.

That arrangment is transposed from the actually written piece[assuming it needed to be transposed]
I don't know enough about cello or the actually piece written for cello to know if it actually needed to be transposed.
But, bass trombone isn't a transposing instrument (infact, no low brass instrument that play in Bass, Tenor or Alto clef transpose, ever.)
So, that link is completely playable on a 5 string bass to par of the real piece.

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by Dave Grossman

I agree with that, for melodic lines. For many chords open strings are often required and even desired. An open string anchoring a chord can really make it stand out. Especially on bowed instruments where chords must be arpeggiated somewhat

Absolutely - I guess that goes without saying if you've heard a lot of string players or play one yourself (DB for me).

That Bach Bow looks cool - I'll read more on that when I have some time.