Johann Sebastian Bach: Six Suites for Violoncello Solo, BWV 1007-1012 Manuscripts Digital Edition: David Starkweather, editor

Every serious cellist struggles with the fact that the original manuscript of J.S. Bach’s Six Suites for Violoncello Solo has been lost. Fortunately, Bach’s work was preserved by 18th century copyists working from his original manuscript, the most respected of which are ones by Anna Magdalena Bach (1701-1760) and Johann Peter Kellner (1705-1772).

This comprehensive 614-page edition uses modern computer technology to compare as many as 6 separate sources passage-by-passage by vertically aligning them. Differences between these sources are clearly marked for the reader, thus greatly facilitating comparisons. Please see the preview pages on the left for examples.

Navigation between these sources and a score (included in the edition) is simple. For example, clicking any page number will take you from the comparison of sources page to the score in the corresponding passage of the music. Clicking the page number again will take you from the score back to the source comparison.

Finally, a scholarly "Interpretation of Sources" article by editor David Starkweather draws conclusions, with easy navigation to the related examples in the manuscripts.

This edition works well with laptops, desktop computers, and tablets similar to the 12.9" iPad Pro. It can be used with an optional bluetooth foot pedal for page turns, and an Apple pencil for editing.