J.S. Bach: Duets For Two Violins

J. S. Bach’s two-part keyboard pieces form a significant body of musical literature but only occasionally have they been arranged for strings. This carefully transcribed collection of cello duets and its two companion volumes Duets for Two Violins (MB # 21437) and Duets for Two Violas (MB # 21438) bring many additions taken from Bach’s suites preludes and inventions to the string player’s repertoire. Intermediate and advanced instrumentalistswill delight in the musical complexity contrapuntal dialogue and variety of moods in these pieces. Since bowing and fingering preferences vary greatly among string players editorial marks have been kept to a minimum. These arrangements are an attractive valuable addition to string ensemble work.

From Concerto For Violin and Oboe-This excellent String Quartet arrangement of Bach's much-loved concerto for Violin and Oboe is straightforward and accessible technically to reasonably good players as there are no tricky rhythms or high notes. SJ Music has also published John Cooley's arrangements of Mozart's Piano duets K497 and K521 for Piano trio (T1988-4) and Piano quartet (Q1995-2) respectively Bach's Organ Passacaglia and Fugue for String Quartet (Q2001-1) and one of Purcell's trio sonatas for string trio.(T2005-1)