Bach’s soprano cantatas

Download free cello piccolo notes.

Mar 10

My friend Ute, who has a beautiful voice, recently asked me for a few parts from Bach’s cantatas so we could later play together. So I put together some links and thought they could be useful.

Below are the links to downloadable free parts on the IMSLP website. Consider signing up for a subscription. It will save you time and support the free share of music notes. You could also download the IMSLP app. It’s practical to keep your parts in order and take notes on them.

BWV 180, parts here

Violoncello da Spalla

J. S. Bach and his first solo for violoncello piccolo

J. S Bach left us nine Cantatas featuring solos for violoncello piccolo. The first in chronological order is the cantata BWV 180, which title roughly means “Shine, my Soul”, and was first performed on October 22nd 1724, specifically for the 20th Sunday after trinity. This was the second year in Leipzig for Bach…

a year ago · Daniela Gaidano & A. Visintini

BWV 115, parts here

Violoncello da Spalla

J. S. Bach, cantatas featuring a solo for violoncello piccolo - part 2

Following from 5th of November 1724 is the second appearance of violoncello piccolo in Bach’s cantatas, just two weeks after its debuts. It’s in the cantata “Mache dich, mein Geist, bereit” (Get ready, my soul) BWV 115, composed for the 22nd Sunday after trinity. Even this time, it is a soprano aria…

a year ago · 1 like · Daniela Gaidano & A. Visintini

BWV 6, parts here (pages 6-7)

Violoncello da Spalla

Bleib bei uns, the Easter-Monday cantata (J. S. Bach Cantatas - part 4)

This Cantata is the fourth with an obbligato violoncello piccolo part. It was written for Easter Monday of 1725, so four months after the last time he used a Violoncello piccolo. It was probably performed again two years later. This cantata is written on the words of the Lutheran corale “Stay with us, Lord Jesus. It soon is evening, and night is falling…

a year ago · Daniela Gaidano & A. Visintini

BWV 68, parts here (pages 4-7)

Violoncello da Spalla

Bach’s cantatas part 7. Pure Joy!

It’s May 1725, and J. S. Bach is super enthusiastic about the violoncello piccolo. Only eight days after the BWV 183, he is employing it again, in the cantata for Wit Monday BWV 68. As in the previous week, the violoncello piccolo separate part is written in tenor clef (when in the higher register). Most probably, the instrument and the player were the …

4 months ago · 3 likes · 2 comments · Daniela Gaidano & A. Visintini

BWV 49, parts here

Violoncello da Spalla

Bach Cantatas with violoncello piccolo - part 9

After BWV 175, five months and a half pass before Bach uses the violoncello piccolo again in a cantata. If it is a lack of good enough performers or a lack of interest, we cannot know. Unlikely as it seems, it could also be frustration about the poor quality of bass strings. In fact, BWV 49 is the part that employs a smaller range. Both C and G strings …

2 months ago · 1 like · Daniela Gaidano & A. Visintini

BWV 199, parts here (page 4)

Stay tuned for the missing article because this cantata has an intriguing history!

Updates from our workshop

This week we are taking a few days off in London!

Last weekend we received the visit of Alberto Vitolo, a violinist and violist originally from Neaples, now based in Rome. He is a performer and teacher, and his main passion is digging into libraries (like the one of the Naples’ Conservatory) to find new repertoire, new music that has never been heard in recent times. He also discovered a concert attributed to Mozart!

Despite being a violinist, he lately was fascinated by lower-range instruments. When he tried the Violoncello da Spalla, he immediately understood not only the vastness of the repertoire that he could study with it but also how enjoyable and effective would be leading his orchestra with it!

I particularly like the pic below because it catches the moment he visualises his future playing it… and his wife's expression behind him!

Thank you Alberto for coming to us and taking Alessandro’s cello da Spalla as your mate for your future adventures!

Featured video of the week

Enjoy this festive Vivaldi concerto by Daniel Bayle, and don’t forget to subscribe to his YouTube channel for more to come!