This ever-popular piece is often performed at weddings, funerals and many other solemn ceremonial events. It has always been a favourite among instrumental players and often used in recitals or concert encores. In 1853, the well-known French composer Charles Gounod added his own melody over a rippling keyboard accompaniment which was a slightly adapted version of the Prelude No. 1 in C major, BWV846, from Book I of J. S. Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier, published in 1722. The title of the ?combined? piece was Méditation sur le Premier Prélude de Piano de S. Bach. Gounod?s original arrangement transposed Bach?s keyboard part from C major into F major and it was scored for violin (or cello), organ and piano. In 1859, the French music publishing company Jacques-Léopold Heugel brought out a vocal version based on the familiar Latin text. Ave Maria (Hail Mary) is a traditional Catholic prayer addressed to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The version of Bach's prelude which Gounod used included the so-called "Schwencke measure" (m. 27 in this arrangement), a measure (bar) allegedly added by the German composer and pianist Christian Friedrich Gottlieb Schwencke (1767-1822) in an attempt to correct what was considered a harmonic weakness in the original. Whether there actually was a ?harmonic weakness? (or possibly an error in the manuscript) remains a matter of conjecture but the fact remains that the most familiar-sounding version of this piece, recorded countless times by both singers and instrumentalists includes this Schwencke measure. It is therefore included in this arrangement.
Some published arrangements show minor inconsistencies in the rhythm of the melody. This arrangement uses the familiar rhythm of the Ave Maria version as it appeared in the 1859 edition.

Arioso is part of Johann Sebastian Bach's Cantata 156 which corresponds to the same number in his B.W.V. catalog. The symphony was probably derived from an earlier oboe concerto and was later adapted as part of Bach's Concerto for harpsichord in F minor. This instrumental quartet version was created with ensemble practice in mind for beginning music school students who want more contact with Baroque music, ideal also for liturgical performance in churches, as it is a sacred work. This version lasts 2:25 minutes with the original melody adapted with the harmony divided between the voices of the performers.

Arioso is part of Johann Sebastian Bach's Cantata 156 which corresponds to the same number in his B.W.V. catalog. The symphony was probably derived from an earlier oboe concerto and was later adapted as part of Bach's Concerto for harpsichord in F minor. This instrumental quartet version was created with ensemble practice in mind for beginning music school students who want more contact with Baroque music, ideal also for liturgical performance in churches, as it is a sacred work. This version lasts 2:25 minutes with the original melody adapted with the harmony divided between the voices of the performers.

Cello Suite No.1 - I.Prelude (for Bass Clarinet) / J.S.Bach BWV1007

J.S.Bach / Chaconne from Vilolin Partita No.2 in D minor, BWV1004 (for Clarinet Octet / Choir)
Arr. by Daisuke Uchiyama

Including Score and Parts:
Eb, Bb 1-4, Alto, Bass, Contralto, (Option)Contrabass

Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). From Cantata BWV 156. Arranged for Bb Clarinet and Piano by Seunghee Lee. Piano Score (3 pages), Clarinet in Bb (1 page). Published by Musica Solis

Bach/Gounod Ave Maria arranged for easy clarinet and piano.