Cello excerpt · Audition repertoire
Bach, Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007
Prelude
The most famous opening in solo cello literature. Broken-chord arpeggiation over a G major bass.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Cello
- Composer
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Work
- Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007
- Movement
- Prelude
- Era
- Baroque (c. 1600–1750)
- Composed
- 1720
- Key
- G
- Metre
- 4/4
- Tempo
- Moderato · ♩ ≈ 60
- Clef
- Bass clef
- Level
- Intermediate, university level
- Audition list
- Yes, standard excerpt
How to practise it
The bow style, the trouble spots, and the stylistic decisions that come up most often on this excerpt.
Bowing
Detaché, even bow distribution. The line must speak through the arpeggios.
Fingering
Practice each chord as a block, visualize the harmony before the bow moves.
Style
Speech-like rhetoric, not metronomic. Bach wants flexible time.
Tags
The full score is on IMSLP.
Work on the technique underneath
Arco's cello curriculum builds the bow strokes, positions, and clef reading this excerpt assumes, with recorded cello playback throughout.