Sinfonia by Bach arr. Rick Willis

Sinfonia, for four marimbas and timpani, is derived from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cantata 29 “Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir” (BWV 29) – written in 1731. This adaptation provides a setting for a percussion ensemble to perform the Preludio from Bach’s Violin Partita #3 (BWV 1006, 1720), which is often performed as a marimba solo. In this arrangement, the accompaniment has been transposed to E major, the key of the original Preludio, that is such a favorite with marimba artists and students. In this work’s contrapuntal brilliance, each mallet part offers its own beauty, challenges and learning opportunities. Appropriate for the concert hall or the sanctuary.