Bach J.S. Sinfonia 8 BWV 794 arranged for viola & piano. The Sinfonia arrangements from PlentyMusic are excellent movements to improve ensemble music practice routines. Download sheet music and piano accompaniments from PlentyMusic The Sinfonia 8 in the key of F is a cheerful and appealing movement with some attractive figuration and a movement that can be played at a range of tempi. A viola part is appended to the full sheet music score. In this arrangement the violist plays the middle voice 2 whilst the piano player contributes with voices 1 and 3 The viola and piano realisation plays back at 76 quarter note or crotchet beats to the minute Ornaments have been omitted in the music score although, those familiar with the performance practice of the baroque may choose to add ornaments particularly at cadences. A guiding principle is that the any ornaments introduced should be imitated in the voices 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. This transcription keeps to original voicings and key although pitch levels in baroque times were lower than in contemporary times. The Sinfonias are works conceived for three voices and feature compositional processes associated with contrapuntal writing of the baroque era: repetition, inversion, imitation, augmentation, diminution, sequence. For all musicians it is important to understand these terms in both a playing and listening context. Piano accompaniments playing at 72, 76, 80 and 84 quarter note or crotchet beats to the minute are available as mp3 downloads from PlentyMusic. Please advise the PlentyMusic Office more accompaniments are required with the tempo specified. 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. Score detail is usually omitted in music from the baroque era although there is scope to introduce crescendos and diminuendo’s with the rise and falls of the music and rits. and ralls are sometimes appropriate at cadences - bars 7, 15 and 23.
