Guitar - Level 4 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.975726
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Arranged by Pete Downes. Baroque,Concert,Sacred,Standards. Guitar Tab. 5 pages. Pete Downes #6410737. Published by Pete Downes (A0.975726).
This is an arrangement of the Sarabande from Bach's Cello Suite III BWV 1009. It is considered a Grade 6 piece by ABRSM. Notation, tab and chord symbols are included plus the original cello score for comparison.
Origin and additions
This has been built from scratch using original cello score sources but transposed to G Major for guitar. Where possible, additional chord notes have been added up to 5 strings.
Additional bass notes have been added to get a richer cello-like range, in particular E bass note added in bars 13-14 and octave lower bass notes added to bar 15, an A bass note added to bar 18.
A transcription of the original cello score is included for comparison and understanding of the additions. This allows a player to create their own alternatives if desired.
Approach to performing
Listen to cellists such as Yo-Yo Ma and Rostropovich performing this piece to get a sense of it's slow, majestic nature on the original instrument. On guitar we can't get the length of expression on a single string but we can use dynamics and space.
If the additional bass notes are excluded, it can also be played with a plectrum.
