Free Cello Ensemble Music: J.S. Bach and more...

I really like how I created a 4-part texture for this 2-part invention (She says humbly!).  All the cellists needs to be comfortable playing in a key with 4 flats, but cello 4 is easier than the other parts. This is beautiful, dark sounding music but as with all Bach's music, never depressing but always with signs of hope and light coming through. I think it suits a cello ensemble better than a keyboard for which Bach originally wrote it.

This is the same music as the file above but transposed down a half step to E minor.  This puts it in a key that may help make beautiful  intonation easier to achieve. Also, you get the beauty of an open B string! 

Cello 2, 3 and 4 are fingered to read the B string notes as you would normally play on a C string. Cello 1 does not have any low B's so can be tuned normally to open C. 

This is an unusual prelude which I nearly gave up on because of the voices  sometimes crossing over each other. I thought that the lines would get lost. But now having played it with 3 other cellists, I can say it sounds beautiful and is worthy to share. All parts are in bass clef and the range goes no higher than 4th position and octave harmonics.

This is another beautiful, dark sounding prelude which I transposed to C minor. Sometimes there are 5 voices but they are all covered by not too difficult double stops. Cello 1 needs a player who can sing in thumb position. The other parts are all in bass clef. 

This is joyous music! Cello 1 and 2 use bass, tenor and treble clef. Cello 3 and 4 use only bass clef. The cello 1 part is good for students who are very comfortable with thumb on octave harmonics because it gives them a little challenge with extensions in that position and string crossing. Enjoy!

Bach wrote this in D major but it's a little easier to play in C major so I transposed it spreading out Bach's 3 parts into 4 parts for cello quartet. Each part is busy enough even with that strategy but it really isn't that difficult as far as Bach goes... Suitable for Suzuki bk 5-7 students.