Several, if not all, of Bach's Cello Suites might have been intended for the viola pomposa, a large, five-stringed instrument held on the arm, which was a common solo instrument in Bach's time.
Compositional Technique
The structure of Bach's Cello Suites, with a Prelude followed by a series of dances (Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Minuet/Bourrée/Gavotte, Gigue), builds on a tradition started by Johann Jacob Froberger with his keyboard suites.
Performer Biography
Frans Helmerson, the cellist on this recording, was born in Sweden in 1945 and won top prizes at international competitions in Florence, Geneva (both 1971), and Munich (1973).
Performer Biography
Mstislav Rostropovich, a renowned cellist, found Bach's cello suites to be a 'superhuman task,' stating no cellist can play them by mere routine.
Compositional Technique
Bach's Cello Suites provide a survey of the cello's technical range, with each of the six suites addressing specific technical challenges.
Composition History
Bach's Cello Suites may have been composed for a phenomenal cellist in the court band at Cothen, where Bach directed from 1717 to 1722.
Compositional Technique
Bach experimented with unusual tunings, known as scordatura, in the Suite No. 5 in C minor, indicating the A string should be tuned down to G.
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