Bach: Air on a G String for Cello & Piano

Digital Sheet Music

By Johann Sebastian Bach

Cello, Cello & Piano - Intermediate - Digital Download
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Baroque Period, General Worship, Repertoire, Wedding, Recital. Score, Set of Parts. 10 pages. Published by jmsgu3 (S0.312965).

Air on a G String

Bach: Air on a G String - ~ Bach composed threenoteworthy Orchestral Suites. He wrote his third orchestral suite, BWV 1068in D, for his Collegium Musicum. The Overture of the suite features adouble-dotted rhythm in the French style and employs the entire ensemble:trumpet trio, timpani, oboe duet, and strings. The strings were the typical 2violin parts, viola part, and continuo of cello and harpsichord. “Air” -the title of the second movement, is, by contrast, scored only for the strings.It seems like this work was entitled “Air on a GString” not by Bach, but by a nineteenth-century violinist named AugustWilhelmj. He arranged the Air such that the firstviolin part was performed by a single soloist – and entirely on the G String.

Bach Overview

Bach: Air on a GString -

First of all, Johann Sebastian Bach ismaybe the greatest composer in music history. Certainly, he was prolific.As a result, everyone has heard of his works. Furthermore, these works numberwell over a thousand. It seems like people are probably most familiar with theinstrumental works such as the Brandenburg Concertos, and the GoldbergVariations. But, similarly famous are such noteworthy works as theWell-Tempered Clavier, the Musical Offering, and certainly the Art of Fugue.Seems like his most famous vocal works include the most noteworthy Mass in BMinor. Also, most noteworthy, though, are the St. John Passion, and certainlythe Christmas Oratorio.

 History

Bach came from a long line of musicians and aboveall, composers. Consequently, he, first of all, pursued a career as a churchorganist. So as a result, he gained employment in various Protestant churchesin Germany. For a while, he worked as a court musician in Weimar and Köthen.Here he probably developed his organ style and likewise his chamber musicstyle. Eventually, he, therefore, gained an appointment as Cantor of St. Thomasin Leipzig. Here he worked until difficulties with his employerultimately drove him away. The King of Poland finally appointed him as courtcomposer.

 Style

It seems like Bach created a fascinatingnew international style. He synthesized elements of the most noteworthyEuropean music ideas into his new style. Even more, this new style was probablyhis synthesis of European musical rhythm and form. Furthermore, in addition tohis complete mastery of counterpoint and motivic development, hissense of harmonic organization probably propelled him to the top.

Revival               

Mendelssohn conducted a Bach revival in the nineteenth century.His effort probably helped to re-familiarize the public with the magnitude ofBach’s works. During this period, scholars published many noteworthy Bachbiographies. Moreover, Wolfgang Schmieder published the BWV (BachWerke Verzeichnis). As a result, this is now the official catalogof his entire artistic output. The BWV number allows us to locate a work in thecatalog. Sometimes scholars will simply use an “S” (Schmieder) as anabbreviation for “BWV”.

 Voyager

NASA launched two Voyager spacecraft in 1977. On-board are phonographrecords with sounds, music, and images of life on Earth. The purpose of thelaunch was to inform intelligent extraterrestrial life forms about conditionson Earth. The music on the disc is varied. There is Bach,Mozart, Beethoven, and Stravinsky among others. However, because Bachis so important in our music history, it contains three times more Bachthat all the others combined.