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J.S.
Bach (1685-1750)
Prelude, BWV
1006a,
by J.S. Bach from the Lute Suite No. 4. This edition of the Bach Prelude
to Lute Suite No. 4 is experimental in several ways. The original key was E major.
Nearly all guitar transcriptions are in that key rather than in D major as I am
presenting here. D major has the advantage that the scale includes more open
strings, especially in the sections that modulate to other keys. In E major
these sections more often require full barré
fingering for arpeggios and have fewer open strings with which to smoothly
shift positions up and down the neck in scale passages. Overall, D major allows
a fuller resonance through sympathetic vibration of non-plucked strings that is
especially suitable both for the texture of a Baroque prelude, and for an
imitation of the Baroque lute with its open D minor tuning.
Fingering
has been selected with two priorities: 1) efficiency of movement and, 2)
resonance of sound. To this end, wherever practical, lines that outline chords
have been assigned across several strings rather than along one string. It is
not always possible to completely reconcile these two priorities. To contrast
scale movement with arpeggios, an unusually large number of slurs have been
marked. They are there to indicate the places that slurs are possible given the
fingering rather than as a suggestion that they all be played. Also not usually
seen in other editions is the separation, through the notation, of embedded
voices shown as a single line in the original. While this may clarify the
texture it has the risk of complicating the appearance of the score.
The
score is available in two versions: one for solo guitar and another with a
second staff in E major for easy comparison with the original.
Download Solo
Guitar Version (9 pages)
Download Two
Keys Version (12 pages)
An
audio recording of this version of the Prelude can be downloaded by clicking here [5.6MB]
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]
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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