Updated: Aug 8, 2022
Sharing thoughts and discoveries on performing the Bach Cello Suites...
One of the greatest problems, or perhaps greatest gifts J S Bach left us, is the complete lack of guidance on performance. This is particularly true with his 6 cello suites. This becomes more challenging when two people, Bach's second wife, Anna Magdalena copied a large amount of her husband's work.. Johann Peter Kellner was another musician who also copied most likely from a different source because there're so many differences between the two versions. And it is possible that neither were from Bach's original script.
Below is the link to an excellent article by Isserlis who covers this topic in detail. I certainly agrees with statement that:
“So deciding on the bowings is a lifelong task – since one will inevitably keep changing one’s mind.”
Steven Isserlis
As a newcomer to the cello, I found my bowing choices were based around what came most easily to me, only to find when the bowing choices I made were secure, I found alternative bowing that suited me more. A good example is again, the Prelude to Cello Suite no. 1 where having mastered the typical phrase of 3 slurred notes followed by 5 separate notes, I now prefer to play the whole half bar phrase in one bow for its smooth sound. I have no doubt this will change again....
Please click the link below to the article - it really is on eco the best explanations and sources fo comfort when working with Bach.
