Sheet Music: Preludio

TitlePreludio
from Lute Suite No. 2 in C minor
Alternate titlesPrelude from Partita for Lute in C minor
Opus numberBWV 997, Mvmt. 1
ComposerJohann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
InstrumentationFlute and bass instrument
KeyC minor
RangeD4–Eb6
Time signature4/4
Tempo72 BPM
Performance time3:05
Difficulty levelintermediate
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (144 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (2.6 MB)
Play-along accompanimentMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (2.7 MB)
Date added2010-08-14
Last updated2010-08-14
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Categories
Baroque

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Saturday 14 August 2010

Tune of the Day: Preludio

from J.S. Bach's Lute Suite in C minor, transcribed for Flute with optional bass line

The Suite for lute (not flute) in C minor, BWV 997 is one of just two lute suites that Bach wrote from scratch: the others are arrangements of works for violin or cello. It is infused with deep but restrained affect, and displays the extraordinary architectural detail that is so much a part of Bach's last ten years. It is with good reason that the piece is widely considered Bach's finest lute work.

The Suite is laid out in four movements, starting with this magnificent two-voice Prelude. The higher voice is florid and of great flexibility, while the lower one moves mostly in steady quarter notes.