Sheep May Safely Graze, BWV 208 by Bach (PDF)
Sheep May Safely Graze, BWV 208 by Bach (PDF)
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Sheep May Safely Graze (Schafe können sicher weiden) from Cantata Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd, BWV 208 by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). PDF sheet music and video for arranged for solo classical guitar. Comes with both a notation edition with left hand fingering and a separate tab edition. The level is late-intermediate (Grade 6 but see more info below on level). This is a PDF Download.
For this arrangement I copied out the vocal melody and continuo line and then added the fragments of melody from the first violin. The key was transposed to D major and some small alterations to the octave of the line was needed to fit the range of the guitar. Otherwise, the arrangement all comes from the cantata score with as little alteration as possible. The somewhat simple texture allows for a faster tempo than some arrangements and the simplicity sounds decidedly Baroque if the continuo line is consistently observed.
The level is late-intermediate (Grade 6) but I will caution students that there are a few stretches making the level a flexible grade 5-8 depending on your tempo and confidence. Since it is mainly two voices there are no particularly difficult chords but there are a few intervals that require a stretch. Here is the YouTube Lesson link if you want to watch my performance and lesson there.
Video Performance and Lesson
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This transcription strikes an excellent balance between expressivity and playability at an amateur level. All the voices are given their due and the transparency is just right for amateur playability without sounding too sparse.
Personally, I have difficulty with some of the stretches and I have to resort to some non-standard fingering, e.g. having to use the same finger to fret two successive but different notes. My hands are slightly below average size and I have a more noticeably short #4 finger
Thanks so much for your feedback. That is all exactly what I was aiming for. Those couple of stretches are unfortunate due to the melody-bass lines but I hope you continue to enjoy it!
There are a lot of classical guitar "EXPERTS" on the WEB; many are good. Werner is one of the best. On his site, there is a lot of free stuff, there is a wide range of music, and there are free . backup videos where he not only plays the piece, but then dissects it. Sheep May Safely Graze is only one of many well made arrangements. He also has former students who he can recommend for further instruction.
Thanks so much Andrew?
Good