Description
This Prelude is the first piece in a larger scale project of transcribing and fingering all of Bach’s cello suites for solo guitar.
The goal of these transcriptions is to present Bach’s music in the original keys, with as few changes as possible, with fingerings that make the music – and an authentic, musical interpretation of the music – accessible to developing and accomplished guitarists alike. Bach’s original music is altered only when a change is needed to fit the range and tuning of the guitar. Rather than adding bass lines and chords, Bach’s original text, brilliant in its seeming simplicity, is maintained.
What is unique and most valuable in these transcriptions is the left-hand fingering. Fingering guitar music is an art, and is an essential element of interpretation on the instrument. Great care was taken to finger this music to make it easier to perform, and to bring out the gestures and phrasing in Bach’s music – making a musical performance immediately available to the player.