Taught by renowned guitaristÂ
Laura Young
In this course, Laura Young teaches J. S. Bach's Cello Suite No. 3, BWV 1009. Originally in C major, she explains why she chooses to perform it in A major and why she considers this resonant key a good fit for Bach's "most joyous cello suite." Learn how singing can help you find the best phrasing, how to balance respecting the score and adding basses for extra resonance, and how to find the best fingerings that will allow the essence of Bach's music to come out.
Introduction
In this lesson, Laura Young explains how to choose the best key to perform Bach's music on the guitar, how to craft the best version for yourself to play, and some overarching principles that are valid for all of Bach's music.
I. Prelude
Laura Young teaches you how to preserve the improvisatory spirit of the Prelude, and how to allow the music to guide all your dynamic, ornamental, and technical choices.
II. Allemande
The most complex of the traditional Baroque Suite dances, the Allemande deserves special attention. In this lesson, Laura Young offers some guidance about the best way to maintain the pulse of the dance while still allowing yourself the necessary freedom to bring out the beauty of the music.
III. Courante
Bach uses two distinct types of Courantes in his Suites: French and Italian courantes. Learn how to play this Italian Courante and what purpose it serves within the larger Suite. Laura explains her phrasing choices and how to use "arrival notes" to make decisions regarding dynamics and tempo fluctuations.
IV. Sarabande
Originally a fast Latin American dance, the Sarabande slowly morphed over the centuries, becoming a quiet and introspective movement by the time this Suite was written. Laura Young explains why the Sarabande is one of Bach's favorite movements, and how to make the most out of it.
V. Bourrée (I and II)
These two contrasting movements are mirror images of each other. In this lesson, Laura Young teaches you the best ways to bring out their differences using phrasing, dynamics, and technique.
VI. Gigue
The traditional closing movement of a Bach Suite, the Gigue, is a fast dance that has its origins in the British Isles. Learn how to make it sound light and effortless despite its technical difficulty by applying Laura Young's unique insights into this movement.
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Unlock Course →Laura Young has performed on prestigious stages around the world, won multiple international prizes, premiered new works, and is a professor at the Escuela Superior de Musica de Catalunya in Barcelona.
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