Bach/Siloti: Prelude from Cello Suite Number 1

The Bach/Siloti Prelude from Cello-Suite Number 1, in G major, is Alexander Siloti's piano transcription of the prelude to Cello-Suite Number 1 from J. S. Bach's Six Cello Suites, BWV 1007 - 1012. Probably oomposed between 1717 and 1723, these Bach pieces are generally considered the greatest of all works for solo cello. This prelude is the best known movement from the Bach's Six Cello Suites and is sometimes heard on television and in movies.

Alexander Siloti (1863 - 1945) was a Russian pianist, conductor and composer. He wrote more than 200 transcriptions of music by Bach, Beethoven, Liszt, Tchaikovsky and Vivaldi. Possibly his most famous transcription is the Prelude in B minor, based on the Prelude in E Minor, BWV 855a, for keyboard by J. S. Bach. As a conductor Siloti gave the world premiere of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto Number 2 with the composer as soloist in 1901. From 1901 to 1903, he led the Moscow Philharmonic, and from 1903 to 1917, he organized, financed, and conducted the Siloti Concerts in St Petersburg. The composers Arensky, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky dedicated music to him.

The music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) is one of humanity's greatest treasures. It is unsurpassed in its expression of profound reverence for life, and in its depth and diversity of ideas and feelings. It provides boundless joy to listeners and performers.

Tutorial

• Slow

Sheetmusic on imslp.org

IMSLP11043-Siloti_-_Bach_Cello_Suite_Transcriptions