cello solo suite 1

[paintandsk8]

I have started working on bach's cello solo suite 1. I am new to classical music so i have two questions. For starters there is no tempo making on the music, What tempo should I be aiming for. And also there are several spots where it says tr above the staff. Does this mean tremolo, and if so does it apply to just that note or the whole bar or what?

[ole Jason]

Assuming you're starting with the prelude...

I don't have my metronome handy so I can't offer an exact tempo but you could download a midi file to hear an example of how fast it's typically played. Also, http://www.naxos.com should have it available for you to listen to online. The "tr" means trill. In baroque music, a trill is always started from the note above. For example, if the note with 'tr' above it is a B, you would start the trill on C natural. The trill is usually performed more or less in tempo but with any solo piece you do have a bit of freedom with it. The 'tr' marking only applies to the note that it's assigned to. Are you learning it at written pitch or down an octave? Hope this helped.

[Dave Grossman]

Originally posted by paintandsk8
I have started working on bach's cello solo suite 1. I am new to classical music so i have two questions. For starters there is no tempo making on the music, What tempo should I be aiming for. And also there are several spots where it says tr above the staff. Does this mean tremolo, and if so does it apply to just that note or the whole bar or what?

The tempo should be 1 ... 2 ... 3 ... 4 ... 1 ... 2 ... 3 ... 4 ... etc.

A trill is when you hammer on and off of a note quickly. ( or, ass in most Bach trills, off and on a note ) The note you hammer on to is one or two half-steps above the note with the trill. It depends on the current key.

Check out:

http://www.jsbach.net/bass/1007-prelude-071099.mp3

for examples. More at http://www.jsbach.net/bass/

- Dave

[ole Jason]

That's some nice tone Dave. Do you play all of the suites an octave down (from written pitch)?

[Dave Grossman]

Originally posted by ole Jason
That's some nice tone Dave. Do you play all of the suites an octave down (from written pitch)?

Thanks. Yeah, I play them all an octave below the Cello version. Technically though, I'm playing them as-written since bass instruments interpret the bass clef an octave below actual pitch.

The Violin works are played 2 octaves below actual pitch.

- Dave