Review

Johann Sebastian Bach
Practice with Bach Volume 5: Twenty-four etudes based on the Six English Suites (BWV 806-811)

Arranged by Ralph Sauer

Alto trombone

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2021
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Etude book. 28 pages.

Primary Genre: Study Material - etude

The Six English Suites, BWV 806-811, are the earliest of Bach’s 19 suites for keyboard and probably date from around 1713 or 1714 (Weimar). The arranger includes the following note: “Two general tempo suggestions are given, Moderato and Lento, but Moderato can mean any speed from moderate to fast. Lento implies a slower pulse. The études work well at many different speeds so please experiment. Articulations are mine (with help from Glenn Gould). Dynamics are not indicated because many different sound levels can (and should be) explored.”

They are arranged in groups of four in D major, D minor, C minor, B-flat major, A minor and G minor respectively. In the first study, the first note is a high d²; overall range is A-f². Ornaments include upper and lower mordent, gruppetto and trill. There is a range of difficulty from No.7 and No.8, which contain mostly eighth notes, to No.21, which has an abundance of sixteenth and thirty-second notes. All of these are marked Moderato.

These études comprehensively cover the range and technical requirements of Baroque and Classical repertoire for Alto Trombone, and as the arranger adds to his foreword, “playing these studies on the tenor trombone will provide excellent material for alto clef reading and high register development.” They should become an indispensable item for today’s students. As a measure of Ralph Sauer’s contribution to trombone literature over many years now, more than 250 of his arrangements are currently available from Cherry Classics.