Baritone Saxophone, Bach 1st Cello Suite, Courante, Minuets

Played by Richard Chandler. J. S. Bach died nearly one hundred years before the saxophone was invented, but Bach's First Cello Suite, works very well for the baritone saxophone. It is played in its original key, thanks to the extra long bell on the baritone saxophone, which enables it to play the lowest note written in this suite, a concert C.
The challenge of playing string instrument music on woodwind instruments is in finding places to take breaths. For this reason, the phrasing of these Bach dances tends to have more rhythmic variation on saxophone than would be the case when played on cello.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Baritone
• Saxophone
• Bach
• 1st
• Cello
• Suite
• Classical
• Richard
• Chandler
• classical
• music

[richardjchandler]

Thanks so much! I played right from the cello version. This requires a low A. Someone has done an edition for saxophone in which they wrote this up by a half step. Perhaps you can find that edition or simply re-write the cello version up a 1/2 or whole step. Good luck!

[richardjchandler]

Thanks so very much for your kind comment. Best wishes on starting on the baritone saxophone!

[ubpfriend]

christopher walken?



[richardjchandler]

@ubpfriend Yes, you are right. Christopher Walken's double.

[richardjchandler]

Great video response! Thanks for sharing it with me, Melissa, and with those who have listened to this 1st Bach Cello Suite. Best wishes for more great music on baritone saxophone!

[richardjchandler]

Yes, you are right... The keys are clacking VERY loudly! I had some work done on the horn and it is a little better now. Hope you liked the notes hidden somewhere underneath those loud keys! Please take a look at my alto videos, which only have a little key noise.

[tubatenorsax]

We are either to be ruled by principle or inclination where one is as acceptable as the other unnacceptable, and it is a principle that whatever music most presents the potential of an instrument in its best light or releases that potential, is sufficient justification for using it, and any music that corrupts or sends performers of that instrument into playing in a way that disobeys the laws of nature (acoustics and mechanics in particular) is to be condemned. Music is discovered not invented.

[PetersJazz1]

Lovely sound. My Yanagisawa dont have low A so this would not work for me then?

[MW3MAN88]

You need to not hit the keys so hard it would make you sound a lot better

[PeriMartins]

Great Video 10/10

[knexkid27]

click click click.... the keys are loud

[lizabannana]

oh my god that is the best u are really good!!! im in jazz band and im just starting!!!

[samduffysinger]

Hmmmm....it's not very fluid. On an alto you can bring more of the fluidity of the cello to the piece even if the tonal quality is not as deep and rich. This isn't a comment on the playing, it is just that a baritone does have heavier mechanism and pads and natural inertia is a challenge for this sort of piece. I would personally approach this slower, with more phrasing for a different interpretation on the baritone (and the chance for breath which the cello doesn't need!).

[83Zel944]

Thank you for bringing the classical baritone sax to youtube. I've been a full-time baritone player for the last 15 years and though I am a rock player I still love the cello like sound of a well played baritone sax. When I play classical I try to channel Yo-Yo Ma to achieve fluidity and delicate tonality. I can hear that clearly in your playing. Fantastic.

To those who are in school or arm chair baritone players with a chastising word you could learn a lesson here if you choose to listen.