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Richard Yates' Classical Guitar Transcriptions |
J.S.
Bach (1685-1750)
Prelude, BWV 928 by J.S. Bach from the Notebook for Wilhelm
Friedemann Bach. This collection of keyboard music was compiled as
instructional material for Bach's eldest son. Many of the pieces are easy
enough to work well on the guitar. This one, however, requires an agile left
hand. It is titled 'Prelude' but has the form and texture of a fughetta and,
since it is here in the key of A major, makes a suitable companion piece to
Prelude 21 from the Well Tempered Clavier, Book 1. MIDI sound file of
Prelude. [2 pages, 97KB].
Prelude 21 from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, by J.S.
Bach. The alternating assortment of arpeggios and scales shows this prelude's
similarity to lute preludes of the time whose purpose was, in part, to check
the instrument's tuning before playing the rest of a suite. The tempo should be
brisk but need not be as fast as you hear on piano recordings by players who
seem to think that it was written by Franz Liszt. I have made some changes to
the barring and doubled the note durations to make the score easier to read.
These changes have no effect on the sound. As fun as this piece is to play, it
really does need to be followed by something more substantial - idealy a fugue
in the same key. I am looking for an suitable companion piece. Let me know if
you have any suggestions. MIDI
sound file of Prelude 21. [2 pages, 100KB].
Prelude 23 from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, by J.S. Bach. This
relatively easy piece surprisingly has been overlooked by other transcriber's
of Bach's music. There are several long tied notes that had to be shortened,
but few other significant changes were made to the original. MIDI sound file of
Prelude 23. [2 pages, 81KB]
Air from the Orchestral Suite No. 3 by J.S. Bach. Known as the 'Air on
the G String' this is one of the most familiar of Bach's works, and it has been
the most frequently requested piece by visitors to this web site. The original
is in four voices and a considerable amount of modification had to be done to
accommodate it to the guitar, but I think you will find the result satisfactory.
MIDI sound file of the
Air. [2 pages, 81KB]
Sleepers, Awake! by J.S. Bach has been transcribed many times - usually
for guitar and another instrument or for two guitars. These combinations are
used so that the chorale melody, in the middle voice, can be projected easily
through the surrounding lines. It is possible, but more difficult, to play it
as a solo as in my transcription here. Every care must be taken to sound the
chorale melody clearly. I have notated it with diamond-shaped noteheads to help
you follow it visually. MIDI
sound file of Sleepers, Awake! [3 pages, 152KB]
Prelude 24 from the Well Tempered Clavier - Book 2 by J.S. Bach. I have
not seen this piece transcribed for guitar before and it is a difficult one at
tempo. In two voices throughout, it gives good practice at articulating
counterpoint. MIDI
sound file of Prelude XXIV. [3 pages, 153KB]
Prelude 12 from the Well Tempered Clavier - Book 2 by J.S. Bach. This takes
some careful attention to left hand fingerings. It is much more important to
play it smoothly than to play it quickly. It is famous for its double
appoggiatura figure in the opening. Crisply articulate the upbeat and then lean
into the first beat of the first four measures (and wherever else this figure
occurs). MIDI sound
file of Prelude XII. [2 pages, 114KB]
Largo by Johann Sebastian Bach from the Violin Sonata No. 3. This may be
the easiest of Bach's music to play on the guitar, yet it allows wonderful
opportunities for sensitive and expressive performance. MIDI sound file of the
Largo. [ 2 pages, 83KB]
Prelude 9 from the Well Tempered Clavier - Book 1 by Johann Sebastian
Bach. This is a cheerful and relatively easy piece from Bach's famous collection
of preludes and fugues. MIDI
sound file of Prelude IX. [2 pages, 91KB]
Prelude 13 from the Well Tempered Clavier - Book 1 by Johann
Sebastian Bach. [2 pages, 104KB]
Prelude XIX from the Well Tempered Clavier - Book 1 by J.S. Bach.
Michael Stitt (Bach
Plucked! web site) asked about other WTC Preludes. This version is quite
playable but has minimal fingerings. MIDI sound file of
Prelude XIX.
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