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Bach: Cello Suite No. 5

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description Bach: Cello Suite No. 5 Overview

Bach's Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011, is one of six suites Johann Sebastian Bach wrote for unaccompanied cello, probably around 1720. It is commonly performed with the cello's A string tuned down to G, a scordatura that changes the instrument's resonance and supports the work's dark C-minor sonority. The suite contains a Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, two Gavottes, and a Gigue, and is studied for its concentrated polyphonic writing on a single instrument.

help Bach: Cello Suite No. 5 FAQ

Why does Bach's Cello Suite No. 5 use scordatura tuning?

The cellist lowers the highest string from A to G, creating a darker resonance and making certain C minor sonorities easier to sustain. This altered tuning is one of the suite's defining technical features.

When did Bach compose Cello Suite No. 5?

The suite is generally dated to around 1720, during Bach's period in Köthen. It is catalogued as BWV 1011 and is written in C minor.

What movements are in Bach's Cello Suite No. 5?

It contains a Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, paired Gavottes, and Gigue. The six-movement structure follows the dance-suite pattern used throughout Bach's cello suites.

Can Bach's Cello Suite No. 5 be played on a normally tuned cello?

Yes, many modern cellists perform it with standard tuning, although the resonance and some chord shapes change. Historically informed performances often restore the scordatura tuning specified by Bach's music.

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