Originally dismissed as curiosities, J. S. Bach's Cello Suites are now understood as the pinnacle of composition for unaccompanied cello. This handbook examines how and why Bach composed these highly innovative works. It explains the characteristics of each of the dance types used in the suites and reveals the compositional methods that achieve cohesion within each suite. The author discusses the four manuscript copies of Bach's lost original and the valuable evidence they contain on how the Suites might be performed. He explores how, after around 1860, the Cello Suites gradually entered the concert hall, where they initially received a mixed critical and audience reception. The Catalan cellist Pablo Casals extensively popularized them through his concerts and recordings, setting the paradigm for several generations to follow. The Cello Suites now have a global resonance, influencing music from Benjamin Britten's Cello Suites to J-pop, and media from K-drama to Ingmar Bergman's films.

‘An excellent book! Full of interesting information, concisely and readably presented. A fine guide to the six miracles known as the Bach cello suites.'

Steven Isserlis - Cello Soloist

‘This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the Bach Cello Suites. The scholarship is up-to-date, conclusions are always interesting, myths are dispelled, and the writing is always clear. Highly recommended!'

George Kennaway - University of Leeds, author of Playing the Cello, 1780–1930