zoom_in Click to enlarge

Bach: Cello Suite No. 4

▲ ▼

description Bach: Cello Suite No. 4 Overview

Bach's Cello Suite No. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 1010, is one of the six unaccompanied cello suites Johann Sebastian Bach composed around 1720. Its prelude and dance movements require the cellist to project harmony and multiple voices through arpeggios, wide registers, and sustained chordal writing without accompaniment. The suite follows the standard sequence of allemande, courante, sarabande, and gigue, with a minuet pair between the sarabande and finale.

help Bach: Cello Suite No. 4 FAQ

What is the catalog number of Bach's Cello Suite No. 4?

It is BWV 1010, written in E-flat major and generally dated to around 1720. The piece is one of Johann Sebastian Bach's six suites for unaccompanied cello.

Which movements are in Bach's Cello Suite No. 4?

The suite has six movements: Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, two Bourrées, and Gigue. The paired Bourrées follow the standard dance-suite pattern used in Bach's cello suites.

Why is Cello Suite No. 4 difficult to play?

E-flat major does not align naturally with the cello's four open strings, and the music often requires extended positions and dense chordal writing. The Prelude in particular demands control over broad harmonic shapes and agile movement across the instrument.

Is Bach's Cello Suite No. 4 accompanied by an orchestra?

No. BWV 1010 is written for a single unaccompanied cello, so one performer must imply both melody and harmony. That solo format makes the suite's multiple voices and chords especially exposed.

swap_horiz

Looking for Bach: Cello Suite No. 4 alternatives? Compare top competitors ranked & scored

arrow_forward