Review

J.S. Bach
Cello Suites No. 1 & 2 :

Arranged by Anders Larson

Trombone

Copenhagen, , Denmark
Publisher: Digitaltrombone
Date of Publication: 2010
URL: http://www.Digitaltrombone.com

Bach Cello Suites arranged for trombone

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - unaccompanied

This is quite a large opus, consisting as it does of the entire Suite No.1 and Suite No.2, transposed from the original keys to ALL other keys and often to clefs other than bass clef. As far as I can tell, all of the transpositions are accurate. One point of inconsistency involves the title of the book. The title on the front cover reads: J.S. Bach: Cello Suites No.1&2 arranged for trombone. The title on the first page of the score reads: Bach: Six Suites for Violoncello Solo, Edited for Brass. Perhaps what I have received is the first part of a larger series of pedagogical works based on the Bach Suites? Presently this is not clear.

There remains one question about this work: what exactly is its purpose? The scores, while accurate regarding notes, are quite limited in the use of articulation markings, slurs, phrasings, and so forth. As an example, the first measure of the first Suite Prelude contains a phrase mark encompassing the entire bar and with an accent on the first note. Subsequent measures have no explicit markings other than simile over the second measure. On the second page, line six, lower notes are given an accent, again for one measure, followed in the succeeding measure by simile. Three lines from the bottom of the second page there is a long phrase mark from the third note, covering the entire measure and all of the next one. As a nod to the trombonist with no F attachment, notes falling below low E are presented with an alternative an octave higher.

What is the motive behind the creation of this edition? Practicing these suites in all keys can pay benefits in the area of reading, clefs, improving range and agility. Apart from that, the whole project seems rather obsessive and limited in usefulness.