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Thread: Bach Cello Suite #1- Starting Off Right?

  1. #1
    Registered User whitelines's Avatar
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    Default Bach Cello Suite #1- Starting Off Right?

    Hi,

    I'd like to learn the first of Bach's famous cello suites on mandolin, and I'm using this video-

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdKGI5zfkE0

    to learn. My question is, does this rendition sound right? I wasn't able to find any type of concert performance or more official-looking video of someone playing the piece in D on a standard mandolin, which is strange to me considering D seems to be the only key that will fit the range of notes in this piece onto the standard mandolin's fretboard.

    Long story short, I just don't want to learn this piece from a reference that doesn't have it just right.
    Vinnie

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    Registered User Tom Wright's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bach Cello Suite #1- Starting Off Right?

    Some playing errors in that video, anyway.

    Here is a fine rendition by a top-notch classical player, Alex Timmerman:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svvM...FF52CD49F1600D
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    Registered User whitelines's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bach Cello Suite #1- Starting Off Right?

    Thanks Tom, I think you've fully answered this thread already! haha
    Vinnie

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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bach Cello Suite #1- Starting Off Right?

    Forget the mandolin, learn it on nyckelharpa!
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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bach Cello Suite #1- Starting Off Right?

    Quote Originally Posted by whitelines View Post
    to learn. My question is, does this rendition sound right? I wasn't able to find any type of concert performance or more official-looking video of someone playing the piece in D on a standard mandolin.
    Well, there are several mandolin and mandocello renditions on YouTube, demonstrating that although there is more than one correct way of playing the piece, there are also many unsatisfactory ways. I guess none of them look very "official," although wearing a white tie and playing in a concert hall doesn't automatically make one version better than another.

    Alex's version is technically accomplished but personally strikes me as a little perfunctory. Robin Bullock, a fine professional mandolinist with many recordings to his name, puts more warmth into his rendition, or so it seems to me.

    Last edited by mrmando; Oct-02-2015 at 8:26pm.
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    Registered User whitelines's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bach Cello Suite #1- Starting Off Right?

    dear god what is that nyckelharpa monstrosity??
    Vinnie

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    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bach Cello Suite #1- Starting Off Right?

    Quote Originally Posted by whitelines View Post
    dear god what is that nyckelharpa monstrosity??
    A keyed fiddle, basically; you bow it but the fingering is a set of keys similar to a hurdy gurdy.

    Sheet music for cello suit for violin (mandolin):

    http://petrucci.mus.auth.gr/imglnks/...our_Violon.pdf

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    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bach Cello Suite #1- Starting Off Right?

    Quote Originally Posted by whitelines View Post
    dear god what is that nyckelharpa monstrosity??
    They are all the rage at the Nyckelharpa festivals!
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bach Cello Suite #1- Starting Off Right?

    Ooh, Avi Avital! Proving that emotion is more important than speed.

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    Registered User whitelines's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bach Cello Suite #1- Starting Off Right?

    This was the first one I found, but then I realized it's not a standard mando :\
    Vinnie

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    Registered User Kevin Stueve's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bach Cello Suite #1- Starting Off Right?

    right it is a mandola so he is playing it in G major, you use the same fingerings on a mandolin and you are playing in d major.

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    Registered User whitelines's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bach Cello Suite #1- Starting Off Right?

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    Well, there are several mandolin and mandocello renditions on YouTube, demonstrating that although there is more than one correct way of playing the piece, there are also many unsatisfactory ways. I guess none of them look very "official," although wearing a white tie and playing in a concert hall doesn't automatically make one version better than another.

    Alex's version is technically accomplished but personally strikes me as a little perfunctory. Robin Bullock, a fine professional mandolinist with many recordings to his name, puts more warmth into his rendition, or so it seems to me.

    I'm very new to music theory; how can this be in G major as the video's caption says if the notes (initially at least) seem to harmonize with D?
    Vinnie

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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bach Cello Suite #1- Starting Off Right?

    Quote Originally Posted by whitelines View Post
    I'm very new to music theory; how can this be in G major as the video's caption says if the notes (initially at least) seem to harmonize with D?
    It was WRITTEN in G major; that's the title of the piece. But yes, he is PLAYING it in D major.
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    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bach Cello Suite #1- Starting Off Right?

    Quote Originally Posted by whitelines View Post
    I'm very new to music theory; how can this be in G major as the video's caption says if the notes (initially at least) seem to harmonize with D?
    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    It was WRITTEN in G major; that's the title of the piece. But yes, he is PLAYING it in D major.
    Yes, it is named for the Cello Suite's key, but this version is moved from the cello CGDA tuning to the key of D for mandolin tuned in GDAE, but the fingering pattern is the same.

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    Default Re: Bach Cello Suite #1- Starting Off Right?



    I have a small error near the end, but it's close. I learned by sheet music. This is on a Poe Mandola.

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