Welcome to my blog

I have created this site in order to provide performers, listeners and composers with a description of a composer's experiences with the creative process. The posts will provide discussions of the inspirations, challenges, and successes of a composer from the inception of the piece to the culmination in performance. I will provide a link to where you can see and hear the works in progress. Comments and questions are always welcomed. They will not posted unless you grant me permission.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Transcription of Bach Orchestra Suite No. 1 - Bourrées and Passepieds

I approached these last two movements in a similar manner to the other movements i.e. being sensitive to resting players, adding some dynamics, adapting the orchestration, and battling with articulation as the edition of the score I am using, which I believe is what Bach wrote, is very inconsistent. 

In the Passepieds, I went back to using the soprano saxophone because the melody in the oboe during the second Passepied has no breathing places. By using the soprano saxophone, I was able to alternate the melody every four measures and allow the oboist and saxophonist a chance to catch his/her breath.

The second Passepied uses the melody of the first Passepied in the strings while the oboes play an obligato over it. The articulation in the string part was more consistent so I used that articulation for the first Passepied.

To see and hear what I have discussed, go to http://www.cooppress.net/bach_orchestra_suite_blog.html. You will be viewing a transposed score.

As always, your comments are appreciated.

Dr. B

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