Bach composed a total of 6 Suites for Solo Cello (catalogued consecutively as BWV1007-BWV1012), all following the same Baroque Suite pattern of 6 movements each. Although the entire collection is well-known among cello players, and has been recorded and played by many famous cellists, it is the first movement of the first Suite in G major (BWV 1007) that has become the most popular with listeners and the most familiar to the general public, due to its frequent use on television and in movies.
The music we present here is a Viola version of the Prelude from Bach's Cello Suite No.1 in G. It is written an octave higher than the original Cello version and in the Viola's Alto Clef. Since the Viola has its strings tuned an octave higher than the Cello, the music can be viewed as having the same string relationships and is able to support similar interpretations.
On mfiles we also have the original movement as composed for Unaccompanied Cello, and also an arrangement for Piano Solo.
Here is a video of Bach's Prelude in G major for Viola from the Cello Suite No.1:
The audio controls below allow you to play the mp3 version of Bach's Prelude in G major for Viola from the Cello Suite No.1 or you can download the MP3 file. You can also download the midi version of Bach's Prelude in G major for Viola from the Cello Suite No.1.
The image below is the first page of the sheet music, and here you can download the full sheet music for Bach's Prelude in G major for Viola from the Cello Suite No.1 in PDF format.
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