J.S. Bach's Sinfonia 2 BWV 788 in an arrangement for string trio of violin, viola & cello. The realisation playback at 58 dotted quarter note or crotchet beats to the minute. In this version ornaments have been omitted. Playing the C minor scale in all its forms natural, harmonic and melodic would be excellent preparation for playing this sinfonia. The voice leading in this sinfonia is not altogether straightforward and players will need to pay attention to the accidentals in the score possibly adding reminders if required. Conflicting accidentals often appear in different voices in the same bar. A sinfonia that features arpeggios and scale runs with the rhythmic shapes in the lines having a strong repetitive element. The note values given in Bach’s Sinfonias often give an indication of intended articulations that are intended. Players should be aiming for a singing legato in their playing. The movement needs to be played, in the first instance, with an awareness of the patterns of 3 in the 12/8 time signature. (4 x 3 to the bar). Accompaniments are in place playing at 56, 58, 60, 62 & 64 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats per minute (bpm). They feature the viola and cello sounding voices 2 & 3 of Bach’s composition. There is a one bar click track sounding on the woodblock as an introduction. Rests have been indicated in the voices as they are in the keyboard version of the works Some of the rhythmic notation particularly with regards to the use of rests is ambiguous. Logic and rules do not universally apply. What tends to be in place is what is good for the eye. The 3 part Sinfonias and 2 part Inventions are excellent movement for developing listening skills, good intonation , ensemble playing and particularly exploring the ranges of instruments. The Sinfonias are works conceived for three voices and feature compositional processes very much associated with Bach’s contrapuntal writing namely: repetition, inversion, imitation, augmentation, diminution, stretto. In these works the closely related keys of the dominant, sub-dominant, relative minor are explored The movement should not be played too quickly. The music editor’s advice is that players need to be clear in their intention as far as the articulation of the lines and the dynamics. Whilst a movement that needs to be played with control there also needs to be a lightness of intention in the playing approach. Baroque scores generally have minimal score detail in place. The movement end with a major chord in what is referred to as a Picardy third. PlentyMusic arrangements provides music practice opportunities & experiences to instrumentalists of playing along with other instruments preparing the way for quality ensemble playing.
