Six Suites for String Bass Solo - J.S. Bach

These suites were originally written for cello, and have been edited and transcribed by Mark Bernat, to be played on the doublebass. Several of these pieces are commonly used as orchestral audition pieces, so they can be considered essential pieces to learn for an aspiring orchestra bassist. They can be somewhat challenging, as you may choose to play (at least some of) them at their original pitch, or down an octave.

Even if you're not necessarily aiming to join an orchestra, these are wonderful exercises to work on your technique, expressiveness, and musicianship. 

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a German composer of the Baroque period and widely considered one of the greatest composers in the Western canon. He carefully studied the work of his forebears and contemporaries, incorporating intricate counterpoint and harmonic innovations into a sophisticated style that represents the zenith of the Baroque tradition. Though he wrote predominantly religious music-including several passions and over 200 cantatas-he is most celebrated today for his profoundly moving instrumental music, including concertos, suites, and sonatas, including many for strings-such as his Cello Suites and Sonatas and Partitas for violin.

Bach's six suites for unaccompanied cello (BWV 1007-1012) form the bedrock of the cello repertory and are indispensable to a classical cellist's development, ranging from the intermediate level Suite No. 1 to the master level Suite No. 6. These six suites are widely considered Bach's greatest masterpieces. These solo bass transcriptions by Mark Bernat maintain the integrity and character of Bach's writing while making them idiomatic for basses. Suites Nos. 1, 2, 5, and 6 are presented in their original keys; Nos. 3 and 4 are transposed. All can also be played with solo tuning. Grade 6.

CONTENTS:

1. Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007
2. Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008
3. Suite No. 3 in G Major (originally C Major), BWV 1009
4. Suite No. 4 in C Major (originally E-flat Major), BWV 1010
5. Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011
6. Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012