hi..i was surfing the net recently and came across the j.s.bach cello suite (2) for viola and i have started with the 1st movement..prelude which is in the grade 8 syllabus for viola this year..

unfortunately my copy has no tempo marking and i would like to know if you know the speed. i thought that prelude would have given it away but idk the tempo of an average prelude either.

please help!
thanks.

Is that the not the one that no-one can agree on.. some like it fast but some say it should be slower?? I think it was one of bachs cello suites??

I've definitely heard it played faster than this but as a start point if you can make it sound this good (particularly on a viola) then you'll be doing well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWyrxAZCOhA

My copy of the cello suites (edited by Watson Forbes) gives the tempo marking for the Prelude of Suite no. 2 as crotchet = 58 -72. Personally I think 72 is way too fast. It sounds good on viola at about crotchet = 58 or slightly slower.