Taught by renowned cellist
Mischa Maisky
Mischa Maisky takes us on a deeply personal journey through J.S. Bach's intense and beguiling Fifth Suite. From the famous prélude with its “French Overture” and fugue, to the austere, modernistic Sarabande and the stately Gigue, the Fifth Suite is a tour de force of Bach’s compositional power— and Maisky is the perfect guide.
Introduction to Suite No. 5
Maisky gives us an overview of this unique Bach Suite and outlines the challenges and traditions of the dark work.
I. Prelude
In this lesson, we dive into the complex "French Overture" rhythmic structure of the prélude. We also learn how to create the illusion of a fugue in one of Bach's most brilliant movements.
II. Allemande
Maisky teaches us how to keep the Allemande flowing, and how to phrase the double stops and complex chord structure.
III. Courante
The Courante, which Maisky plays attacca from the previous movement, has intense drama. Maisky shows us how to create a musical story with this fiery music.
IV. Sarabande
A unique sarabande in all the Suites in that it has no double stops. We learn how to pace this most austere of slow movements, and Maisky teaches us about traditions and performance practice.
V. Gavotte I and II
The two gavottes are a great study in coontrast. We learn about the intense rhythmic structure and how to balance the character and tempo relationships between the two.
VI. Gigue
A deceptively simple movement. We learn about the importance of the dotted rhythyms and the character of this evocative gigue.
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Unlock Course →Legendary artist Mischa Maisky, one of the last of the classic Russian school of string playing, has been one of the world's leading cellists for fifty years.
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