Bach Masterclass: Prelude from Suite No. 4 - Musings with Inbal Segev

Hello Cellists,
I'm excited to talk about the E-Flat Major Prelude today, not only because I've received so many requests to talk about this piece, but because studying and re-studying Bach always makes me feel like a better person.
I hope those of you who are learning this wonderful prelude will find this video helpful in taking your performance to the next level.
Below is a short reading list and helpful links for studying the Bach cello suites. Please let me know if you have any comments and/or questions, I would love to hear from you. Thank you for watching!!
Download the most important sources we have of the suites right here for free:
bit.ly/BachCell...
"The Fencing Master" and the sequel, "Bach and the Happy Few," are both must reads if I may say so, written by THE baroque cellist of our time, Anner Bylsma.
www.bylsmafenci...
Another must-have is Barenreiter’s urtext edition, which contains facsimiles of the manuscript copies in the hand of Anna Magdalena Bach, Johann Peter Kellner, as well as the Westphal library manuscript (anonymous copiers), first editions, and more.
www.sheetmusicp...
Allen Winold’s book: Bach’s Cello Suites: Analyses and Explorations
www.amazon.com...
inbalsegev.com

[@drdivine44]

I'm a violist and really appreciate your time in putting together these thoughtful and well-produced videos free of charge. I've been internalizing all of the Suites over the past 8 years and the Eb Prelude is the last 'big' movement I have left to work on, 3 movements to go and I'll have the whole book in my head and under my fingers. Thank you for your insights and admirable playing. Your effortless bowing is something to emulate.

[@nowayjose20]

The low C# on your cello sounds insane.

[@evelynpfriem8499]

I adore the sound on your cello! I can't wait to be tall enough to get a full size cello lol.
And I have.

[@RedTheCellist]

This 24-minute video touches on lots of good things about the harmonic motion and the different voices, but there are so many technical considerations it doesn't mention! This piece has so many string crossings to negotiate and so many traps for the left hand. Would be great if there were another video to address these.

[@Inbalsegev]

Thanks for writing Peter Swanson, yes, you are right, there are so many technical considerations that I didn't mention. It is impossible to do that in a short video but I do try to focus on different aspects for different movements. I will make a note to talk about string crossings another time.

[@russellwoodstechno]

i began learning this prelude on mandolin in May and i’m only 20 measures in. the ease you play this with is phenomenal.
also, the resonance your have on the album is something else.

[@Inbalsegev]

Thanks very much John Brown, and good luck deciphering this beautiful prelude. If you want, an easier movement might be the first minuet from suite No. 3 in C major.

[@russellwoodstechno]

@@Inbalsegev this piece is a great challenge. but i’ll take up your suggestion, i’ve needed something else as a pallet cleanser between this and the No. 1 prelude.

[@russellwoodstechno]

@@Inbalsegev did you mean the bourees in C maj?

[@Inbalsegevcello]

@@russellwoodstechno yes, I meant the Bouree, not the Minuet.

[@russellwoodstechno]

@@Inbalsegevcello IT’S SO FUN TO PLAY. thanks for the recommendation.

[@nalleniverson]

Incredible direction and breadth in interpreting Bach; concisely and completely. These videos have helped me simprove, I think, vastly.

[@b.nahomimartinezgomez2152]

This is just what I needed, I'm just starting this dance ✨

[@davidjohnstone320]

very good indeed. One of your very best 'Musings' so far, on a difficult prelude indeed ...

[@mmontes5283]

Thanks for your vision on this suite. It'll be very useful to have some scanner of your analysed score to see the color marked lines and tonal key sections as a whole!! Great job

[@cir.2042]

Thank you very much!! I am learning this piece. 😊

[@angelicacellomusic]

Wow! Thank you very much! With this I feel less lost in this prelude! I admire your patience, that's what I have to learn! :)

[@daponte18]

Thank you so much , Inbal Segev. I am getting ready to perform this piece soon !

[@JosephM6961]

Another great video! Patiently waiting for the Debussy Sonata :)

[@cellomusic5982]

Thank you very much😍😍😍

[@mariaemiliachiesa3196]

You are a wonderful cellist! And that cello, oh my god, is so beautiful, who is the master that has built it?

[@magdamont3121]

Excellent video! You have inspired me to play this nice prelude! Thank you!

[@lilyp3354]

Love these videos so helpful!

[@musico981]

Molto interessante e molto chiara, anche nell'esposizione verbale. 🔔

[@narguellon]

Thanks! Beautiful

[@Zeachrome]

Would be super cool if you could do the entire first movement of the elgar concerto!

[@Smoph04]

Thanks! I plan on playing this for my local solo ensemble competition

[@russellwoodstechno]

Sophie M D how’d it go?

[@andrewanderson3016]

1 year later...... HOW DID YOU DO?

[@rodrigopessoa637]

Thanks so much!

[@nilswestdal3254]

Nicely done. Do you know why Yo Yo ma plays it differently? He plays a D natural at bar 16. Not just on his recordings but live as well. It's driving me crazy.

[@jesushelgueraalonso8748]

Podrías subtitular en español??
Estaríamos interesados y agradecidos...🙏

[@GusWMusic]

I really like what you do on your channel, but I don‘t agree with the way you play Bach (romantic, fat, vibrato on every single note). Still, very good video!