Complexity in the Simplest of Things – Bach Cello Suites

Posted by Andrew D Meyer on September 5, 2020 in Saxophone, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

I’ve been playing through the Bach Cello Suites this week, which is always rewarding. These seemingly simple lines are surprisingly difficult to play with clarity and direction. (As you’ll hear below!) I’ve been listening to the Pablo Casals recordings from the 1930’s, which are quite amazing. I swear there are some parts where he swings. What I found interesting though is that I can copy his inflection exactly and it just doesn’t translate to the saxophone. I think it must have something to do with the amount of force that he used to get the long open strings to vibrate compared to the relatively short tube of the soprano saxophone.

Here’s the Courante from the 3rd suite: