Cello Suite no. 6 in D major, BWV.1012
The six Cello Suites, BWV 1007–1012, are suites for unaccompanied cello by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750). They are some of the most frequently performed solo compositions ever written for cello. Bach most likely composed them during the period 1717–1723, when he served as Kapellmeister in Köthen. The title given on the cover of the Anna Magdalena Bach manuscript was Suites à Violoncello Solo senza Basso (Suites for cello solo without bass). As usual in a Baroque musical suite, after the prelude which begins each suite, all the other movements are based around baroque dance types.
Movements
- Prélude
- Allemande
- Courante
- Sarabanda
- Gavottes I & II
- Gigue
Recommended recordings
- Pablo Casals YouTubeSpotify (subscription)
- Yo-Yo Ma YouTubeSpotify (subscription)
Most recent recordings
- Cello Suite No.6 in D Major, BWV 1012: V. Gavotte I & II — Johann Sebastian Bach, Jorge Pérez (2026) Spotify
- D大调第六号无伴奏大提琴组曲,BWV 1012 Ⅰ.前奏曲(Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: I. Prélude) — Johann Sebastian Bach, 秦立巍 (2024) Spotify
- Bach: Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: III Sarabande — Johann Sebastian Bach, Detmar Leertouwer (2024) Spotify
New releases via Spotify — surfaced automatically, not editorial picks.

