Chopin’s 24 Preludes, Opus 28, feature a prelude in each of the major and minor keys. They were composed in the late 1830s, some of them on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca, where Chopin had brought with him a copy of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier. Unlike the Bach preludes, which are each followed by a fugue, Chopin’s are stand-alone pieces.

Though most of the Preludes feature a range of pitches not conducive to cello ensemble, several are contained enough to be adapted. Five are presented here: A minor, E minor, B minor, E major, and C minor. All are for four celli except the A minor (three parts). In addition, two of these (E minor and B minor) have the lowest cello tuned down to a B natural, in order to preserve the original key.

There are also versions available of Chopin's E major and the C minor Preludes arranged for cellos plus a contrabass. Those with bass will be closer to the original versions, as their range extends beyond the normal cello range. The prelude in D-flat major is also part of that publication.

These pieces demand a certain imagination and ebb and flow of the tempo. The challenge will be to make these pushes and pulls natural and cohesive and to have the ensemble move as with the freedom of the solo pianist. Chopin is also sparing in his dynamic indications, allowing plenty of room for interpretation there, as well.

-Charles Jacot