Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello (Such, revised Pratt) by Johann Sebastian Bach Cello - Sheet Music

SKU: ST.R7663

ISBN 9790220200502.

THE EDITION

Since the first edition by Probst in 1825 (probably from Westphal) there have been more than thirty further editions of the Suites. A few make acceptable attempts at reproducing the original text but the majority are extremely idiosyncratic versions, bearing little resemblance to any of the manuscripts and including, in the nineteenth century, at least four with piano accompaniments.

The present edition replaces the earlier Augener edition of 1919, by Percy Such. I have not attempted a collation of the three sources as this is as likely to compound errors as to resolve them. Instead, I have taken what I believe to be the most authoritative text, that of Anna Magdalena Bach, and reproduced as exactly as possible the notes and the ornaments, and the articulations implied by her admittedly haphazard slurs. Some slurs may well be misplaced, though in deciding on their exact position I have consistently used analogy with similar figuration elsewhere in the movement. Any exceptions to these principles are noted in the critical commentary. I have used the other manuscripts, particularly Kellner's, as supporting evidence in cases of doubt, but have only incorporated additional material from them as clearly marked editorial suggestions.

George Pratt, University of Keele 1978