Review

Johann Sebastian Bach
Practice with Bach Volume 5: Twenty-four etudes based on the Six English Suites (BWV 806-811)

Arranged by Ralph Sauer

Bass trombone

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2021
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Etude book. 28 pages.

Primary Genre: Study Material - etude

Ralph Sauer continues to provide unique practice material with his newest Practice With Bach text. While the previous four volumes contained music from the Well-Tempered Clavier, Six Partitas (BWV 825-830), Six French Suites (BWV 812-817), and the Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) respectively, Volume 5 includes twenty-four études adapted from the Six English Suites (BWV 806-811). Mr. Sauer has chosen four movements, one slow and three others marked “moderato,” from each of the six suites to create a collection that is both challenging and musically satisfying.

To adapt the Six English Suites for bass trombone, Mr. Sauer extracted the melody woven throughout the texture of the keyboard parts, often writing out the ornaments, but otherwise staying true to the original. On rare occasions, often due to the length of the phrases, a note has been left out to allow for a breath, but this does not substantively take anything away from the exercises. Études 1-4, selected from the first suite in A Major, have been transposed to B-flat Major, while the remaining twenty are presented in their original key.

These études are excellent for sight reading, endurance, and developing one’s interpretive skills. The key is to try new and different interpretations. Mr. Sauer himself writes, “The études work well at many different speeds, so please experiment. Articulations are mine (with help from Glenn Gould). Dynamics are not indicated because many different sound levels could (and should) be explored.” It is also recommended that any work on these études coincide with a deeper study of the keyboard versions of the Six English Suites, particularly the unique traits of the different dance-inspired movements.