J.S.Bach’s Sinfonias are excellent movements to improve music practice routines. An arrangement from PlentyMusic of J.S Bach’s Sinfonia 4 (BWV 790) for clarinet trio. The arrangement is scored for two clarinets in Bb and bass clarinet. As there is a strong chromatic element in the writing careful attentions needs to be paid to the reading of the notes and particularly the note values in this melancholy movement. The clarinet trio realisation plays back at 42 quarter note or crotchet beats to the minute. This is an excellent ensemble piece for developing good intonation (playing in tune) in group music making. No ornaments are indicated in this arrangement. Those familiar with the performance practice of the baroque may choose to add ornaments particularly at cadences. This transcription keeps to original voicings and key although pitch levels in baroque times were lower than in contemporary times. 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. The Sinfonias are works conceived for three voices and feature compositional processes very much associated with contrapuntal writing of the baroque era namely: repetition, inversion, imitation, augmentation, diminution, sequence. For all musicians it is important to understand these terms in both a playing and listening context. Accompaniments that feature the clarinet 2 and bass clarinet parts are available playing at 40, 42, 44 and 46 quarter note or crotchet beats to the minute are available as mp3 downloads. 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.
