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Cello Suite No. 1 (Bach)

The Cello Suite No. 1 is the first of Johann Sebastian Bach's six suites for solo cello. It is in the key of G major, and in Wolfgang Schmieder's catalogue of Bach's works, it has the catalogue number BWV 1007.

Like the other suites, it is thought that Bach wrote this piece between 1717 and 1723 while he was in Cöthen. Although this suite is called "number one" it is not clear if it was indeed the first written.

The suite is in six movements:

  1. Prelude
  2. Allemande
  3. Courante
  4. Sarabande
  5. Minuet I & II
  6. Gigue

The Prelude, mainly made up of arpeggiated chordss, has been performed on instruments other than the cello, such as the piano and the guitar.