Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008
by Johann Sebastian Bach
The second of Bach's six suites for unaccompanied cello, set in D minor, lending it a darker and more introspective character than the first suite. The Prelude features a distinctive arpeggiated pattern that unfolds into complex polyphonic writing. The Sarabande is particularly austere and moving, while the closing Gigue provides rhythmic vitality.
Editions
Henle Verlag
Egon Voss, 2000
Critical Urtext based on Anna Magdalena Bach's manuscript copy. Clean text with minimal editorial intervention.
Bärenreiter
Bettina Schwemer & Douglas Woodfull-Harris, 2012
Scholarly edition with comprehensive critical commentary and facsimile comparison from all surviving sources.
Wiener Urtext
Wolfgang Boettcher, 2004
Urtext with practical performance suggestions. Includes bowings that balance historical awareness with modern technique.