Looking for all six Bach suites for bass

[BrianMcAnally]

Does anyone know where I can find all six Bach cello suites for double bass in all orginal keys?
I can't seem to find them anywhere!!!

[Eric Swanson]

Er...not to sound wiseguyesque, but how 'bout buying the 'cello music, since that is essentially what you are looking for, no?

I have had a few versions; my favorite is the one edited by Janos Starker. I am sure that other folks have their own faves...

[paganjack]

amazon link

don't know for sure if this is what you are looking for, but this is the book i have. it's for cello, but i mean, it's all bass clef. i've used it for bass just fine.

[Andrew McGregor]

There's at least two editions online for download:

http://www.free-scores.com/download-...c.php?pdf=6082

http://icking-music-archive.org/ByComposer/J.S.Bach.php

(it helps to know that the first suite is BWV 1007 to find it on the latter page)

[Marcus Johnson]

Wow.... thanks, Andrew.

[quenoil]

Rabbath's edition of all 6 suites is done and supposedly going to be published by Leduc.... but when? Who knows?

[thedbassist]

Thanks for that informantion quenoil, why is Leduc taking so long to publish Rabbath's materials? I really wouldn't mind being able to buy the fourth book and having many of Rabbath's compositions in the current way that he wants them written down. Oh well, I guess all I can do is wait and rant. Or being able to hear Rabbath play all six suites too.

[kpo]

Originally Posted by BrianMcAnally

Does anyone know where I can find all six Bach cello suites for double bass in all orginal keys?
I can't seem to find them anywhere!!!

You would do well to get the 6 suites in the edition that includes copies of the "original manuscript", as copied by Anna Magdelena Bach.

International Music publishes a tome of the six suites, edited by Edmond Kurtz, where for each page of the "original", complete with ambiguous slurs and smudges, he presents one page of modern, clear printing interpretation of the original. He also adds some reference points where the Anna Magdelena score conflicts with other folks' and other scores' opinions.
International Music Co. #805 Six Suites, S. 1007-1012 (Kurtz). Contains facsimile of the autograph manuscript
$23.00
http://www.internationalmusicco.com/...?CallSort1=180

Much more useful than an "edition for bass", since those editions have chord re-spellings and... let's say, "inventive" bowings and slurs, without telling you how or why they're changing things!

[Bentonrii]

I like
Bach for Bass
the 6 unaccompanied Suites for cello by J.S. Bach
Transcribed for String Bass
Robert Rohe

[Peter Ferretti]

Originally Posted by KPO

Much more useful than an "edition for bass", since those editions have chord re-spellings and... let's say, "inventive" bowings and slurs, without telling you how or why they're changing things!

Originally Posted by Bentonrii

I like
Bach for Bass
the 6 unaccompanied Suites for cello by J.S. Bach
Transcribed for String Bass
Robert Rohe

Which is the reason why I seriously dislike Robert Rohes edition. If you are not technically ready to play the cello suites in the original keys (for at least the first and second suite), then you should probably be looking elsewhere for repertoire. You would have to relearn the suites for auditions, and most likely recitals.

That being said, I like Paul Ellison's Edition. I'm not sure I'd use it to play off of exclusively, but it's nice to have for reference. I personally play off of a barenreiter cello part. I think it's around 30 bucks.

[koricancowboy]

Originally Posted by kpo

You would do well to get the 6 suites in the edition that includes copies of the "original manuscript", as copied by Anna Magdelena Bach.

International Music publishes a tome of the six suites, edited by Edmond Kurtz, where for each page of the "original", complete with ambiguous slurs and smudges, he presents one page of modern, clear printing interpretation of the original. He also adds some reference points where the Anna Magdelena score conflicts with other folks' and other scores' opinions.
International Music Co. #805 Six Suites, S. 1007-1012 (Kurtz). Contains facsimile of the autograph manuscript
$23.00
http://www.internationalmusicco.com/...?CallSort1=180

Much more useful than an "edition for bass", since those editions have chord re-spellings and... let's say, "inventive" bowings and slurs, without telling you how or why they're changing things!

You can get 'em for free here
http://imslp.org/wiki/Suites_for_Vio...ann_Sebastian)

Scroll down a bit and the original manuscript are there too. And for kicks here are the gamba sonatas.

http://imslp.org/wiki/Sonatas_for_Vi...ann_Sebastian)




Enjoy,
Oz

[quenoil]

Originally Posted by thedbassist

Thanks for that informantion quenoil, why is Leduc taking so long to publish Rabbath's materials? I really wouldn't mind being able to buy the fourth book and having many of Rabbath's compositions in the current way that he wants them written down. Oh well, I guess all I can do is wait and rant. Or being able to hear Rabbath play all six suites too.

Just heard from Francois that the 4th volume and the suites will both be coming out this year. If he will ever release his recordings of the 6 suites I have no idea... they were recorded 7 or 8 years ago. Hopefully soon!

[EggyToast]

Do you guys play them transposed down an octave, requiring a low C, or do you guys play them as "originally intended, just on a bigger instrument"?

[thedbassist]

Originally Posted by quenoil

Just heard from Francois that the 4th volume and the suites will both be coming out this year. If he will ever release his recordings of the 6 suites I have no idea... they were recorded 7 or 8 years ago. Hopefully soon!

Thanks, that really gives me something to look forward to bass-wise. I heard he was going to release his recordings, I kind of forgot the specifics though. There might be a documentary with Rabbath's playing of Bach as the focus. Check this out if you haven't already: http://francoisrabbath.blogspot.com/...la-quarte.html I assume it's the opening to the documentary.

[jgbass]

You also might want to take a look at the gamba sonatas. Very double bass friendly. Not all tenor clef either There are three, and here is one of them. The other two are at this site.

BWV1027-9

http://imslp.info/files/imglnks/usim...-_BWV_1027.pdf

[wilsonn]

BWV1027-9 looks like murder to me. :-) I will have a go at that this weekend.

[jgbass]

wilsonn,
I am not quite ready for these, only have looked them over, and heard the 1st one played in a recital. Hearing the 1st one live was an amazing experience. Curious what your experience will be of playing them.

My bass teacher always talks about how the gamba sonatas are so much better suited for DB than the cello suites and how he would rather teach them . Easier for fingering, probably because the gamba is/was an instruments tuned mostly in 4ths.

[cryfok]

Originally Posted by EggyToast

Do you guys play them transposed down an octave, requiring a low C, or do you guys play them as "originally intended, just on a bigger instrument"?

i was wondering the same thing; i would assume these were meant to be played at pitch (i.e., an octave above what we're used to reading), but i'm not entirely sure of this fact.

thanks,
j

[EggyToast]

Right, if you play the notes untransposed (or "as written") instead of taking them down an octave, it's a bit more difficult on bass compared to a cello. I could muddle through with it transposed down to bass, and then just switch anything below E up an octave for an interesting take, but was wondering what you guys who are playing/practicing with them are doing.

[quenoil]

I have only worked on the first suite - I play it at the same pitch as the cello.