Bach?

To listen press on the audio player below
(you can also download the file –
click on the three dots on the right):

To use the carousel, click on or touch the number 1 on the top left; it will open up to fill your screen, you can then move through the four slides by using the arrows at the side; to leave it simply press Escape (Esc) or, if on your phone or tablet – where they’re best viewed in landscape – the small x in the top right hand corner.


Casals was 77 when this was recorded. Some of the skills of the 30s recordings may be a little blunted, but it’s an invaluable document all the same …

1. Prelude – 0:01
2. Allemande – 2:06
3. Courante – 5:33
4. Sarabande – 8:08
5. Minuets 1 & 2 – 10:36
6. Gigue – 14:01


Seventh heaven for score-followers: you can follow both Anna Magdalena’s and a modern version of the work simultaneously! The cellist is Yo-Yo Ma.

1. Prelude – 0:17
2. Allemande – 2:50
3. Courante – 6:38
4. Sarabande – 9:04
5. Minuets 1 & 2 – 12:01
6. Gigue – 15:07


It dawned on me (too late, too late!) that I haven’t even mentioned Rostropovich, though I’m fairly sure this was because he’d always seemed, to me, to be more comfortable in later repertoire. This is me making amends:

1. Prelude
2. Allemande​
3. Courante
4. Sarabande
5. Minuets 1 & 2
6. Gigue


And, if you want to make the pilgrimage (well worth it!) …

1. Cello-Suites#1 BWV-1007 (0:00​)
2. Cello-Suites#2 BWV-1008 (18:39​)
3. Cello-Suites#3 BWV-1009 (37:44​)
4. Cello-Suites#4 BWV-1010 (1:00:56​)
5. Cello-Suites#5 BWV-1011 (1:26:26​)
6. Cello-Suites#6 BWV-1012 (1:51:20​)


Any copyrighted material on these pages is included as “fair use”, for the purpose of study, and critical analysis only, and will be removed at the request of the copyright owner(s).