Bach J.S. Sinfonia 11 BWV 797 arranged for string trio of violin, viola & cello. The Sinfonia arrangements from PlentyMusic are excellent movements to improve music practice routines. The Sinfonia 11 in the key of Gm is a melancholy and appealing movement with some attractive rhythmic and melodic figuration. String accompaniments, featuring the viola and cello, playing at 30, 32, 34 and 36 dotted quarter note or crotchet beats to the minute are available as mp3 downloads from PlentyMusic giving the violinist the opportunity of playing in an ensemble. In this arrangement the violinist plays voice 1, the violist voice 2 and the cellist voice 3. The string trio realisation plays back at 32 dotted quarter note beats or crotchet beats to the minute. Individual instrument parts are appended to the full music score. The sinfonias are excellent movements to develop and improve ensemble playing. There is a considerable melodic range in the three voices with each having a range of close to two octaves. Playing such ranges encourages the development of good intonation (playing in tune) and will make players aware of the importance of quality of tone. String players should be aiming for a legato in their playing. This movement is a very good test of ensemble playing particularly because of the tied notes across the bar lines and the imaginative rhythmic and melodic figuration that features in the movement. To fully appreciate the rhythmic fluidity of the movement instrumentalists should experience playing the movement in an ensemble. This fluidity in the rhythmic shapes possibly part explains one of the reasons why Bach’s music is often adapted and played by jazz musicians Rehearsal marks are in place at bars 17, 33, 48 and 65 on the music score although the music editor suggests that in music of this style players will know immediately when they are not quite together. While this music sounds emotional and encourages an emotional response to listeners it needs to be performed with an objectivity. Ornaments have been omitted in the preparing of this music score although those familiar with the performance practice of baroque music may choose to add ornaments particularly at cadences. A guiding principle is that the any ornaments introduced should be imitated in the other voices. The Sinfonias were originally composed for harpsichord the keyboard instrument of J.S. Bach’s time although they do provide excellent ensemble material for various instrument combinations. This transcription keeps to original voicings and key although pitch levels in baroque times were lower than in contemporary times. The Sinfonias would have been mainly played on the keyboard instruments of Bach’s time available in the home which may have included the clavichord and harpsichord. The organ which is also a keyboard instrument required the need for a person to operate the bellows and was essentially a church instrument The Sinfonias are works conceived for three voices and feature compositional processes associated with contrapuntal writing of the baroque era: repetition, inversion, imitation and sequence feature strongly in this particular sinfonia The 3 part Sinfonias and 2 part Inventions are excellent movement for developing listening skills in ensemble playing. Do make use of these and other resources available on the PlentyMusic website. Score detail is usually omitted in music from the baroque era although there is scope to introduce crescendos and diminuendos with the rise and falls of the music and rits. and ralls are sometimes appropriate at cadences. Do make sure that your instrument is in tune before playing with an accompaniment. PlentyMusic realisations and accompaniments are pitched at A = 440 hertz.
