Bach From Cello Suite No. 1
Bach’s first cello suite is one of the world’s most played pieces for solo cello.
About the video
- Published online 29 August 2023.
- The video is approximately 3 minutes.
- A musical excerpt from the series Mankind and Music, episode 2.
In the span of a year, around 1720, Johann Sebastian Bach composed six suites for solo cello. They all begin with a prelude, followed by a series of dance movements originating from different countries.
The Sarabande, which originated as a wild, quick-paced Spanish dance, evolved as it spread across Europe. The dance symbolises pent-up passion, longing and melancholy, and was instead portrayed – as in Bach’s Sarabande from the first cello suite – slowly and with dignity.
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This excerpt of music is from episode 2 of the series Mankind and Music. The five episodes are available to watch here on Konserthuset Play. Why does music exist? What happens to us when we make or listen to music? In this series, we explore answers to these questions together with musicians, listeners and researchers.
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The music
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Johann Sebastian Bach Fourth Movement Sarabande from Cello Suite No. 1 in C major BWV 1007
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Participants
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Marie Macleod cello
