When Bach was requested one day to compose for the lute, it was certainly no mere coincidence that he happened to choose to adapt one of his cello suites for this instrument. We still have the autograph manuscript of this arrangement, which is not the case for the suites themselves. This transcription, which is an exemplary piece of work, could but stimulate modern lutenists, fascinated by the all too rare compositions Bach wrote specifically for their instrument. - Hopkinson Smith