Bach - Cello Suites, BWV 1007–1012

The suites were largely forgotten until they were rediscovered by the legendary Catalan cellist Pablo Casals in the late 19th century. Casals found a copy in a thrift shop in Barcelona when he was 13 and later popularized them.

Bach composed exactly six suites for unaccompanied cello, cataloged as BWV 1007 through 1012. They were composed around 1717 to 1723 while he was working in Cöthen.

Yes, each of the six suites follows a nearly identical sequence of six movements, beginning with a Prelude. The middle four movements always consist of an Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, and a pair of Minuets, Bourrées, or Gavottes.

Because they are written for a single instrument, the cellist must imply underlying chords and harmonies using only single-line melodic notes. This requires masterful use of double stops and string crossing to create the illusion of multiple voices playing at once.