Viola Sonatas (Bach)

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The viol sonatas are three sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord ( BWV 1027–1029) by Johann Sebastian Bach . They are among his most famous chamber music works .

The sonatas have no stylistic reference to the contemporary French gamba culture (such as that of Antoine Forqueray , Sainte-Colombe or Marin Marais ), which was characterized by virtuoso ornamentation and highly developed chord playing. It is therefore also likely that these works were not originally written for gamba; rather, Bach arranged it for this instrument.

Today the compositions are also played by cellists , violists and double bass players, among others, but are either very high or very low on these instruments.

The three sonatas are almost entirely contrapuntal , that is, the viol and the two hands of the harpsichord are equally involved in the three-part movement. Only at the beginning of the third movement of the second sonata and at the beginning of the first movement of the third sonata are figured bass numbers .

The individual sonatas

Sonata in G major BWV 1027

sentences
  • Adagio 12/8 in G major
  • Allegro ma non tanto 3/4 in G major
  • Andante c E minor
  • Allegro Moderato ¢ G major
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The sonata is also available in a version for two flutes and continuo (BWV 1039, also in G major); Bach octaved the voice of the second flute and gave it to the viol. The third movement is a remarkable harmonic study; the two quick movements represent fugues or fugati .

Sonata in D major BWV 1028

sentences
  • Adagio 3/4 in D major
  • Allegro 2/4 in D major
  • Andante 12/8 B minor
  • Allegro 6/8 in D major
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The third movement represents a siciliano that goes on and on in harmony . The final movement is a fugue with two themes that are constantly exchanged between the instruments; it contains very modern concertante elements - above all a large-scale virtuoso cadenza for each of the two solo instruments. If the sonata actually goes back to an original form for other instruments, Bach must have made significant additions here.

Sonata in G minor BWV 1029

sentences
  • Vivace in G minor
  • Adagio 3/2 in B flat major
  • Allegro 6/8 in G minor
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The overall form and many details are clearly reminiscent of the concert form, and it has already been assumed that the sonata originated from an arrangement of a concert (then probably for two flutes). The unison theme of the first movement already suggests the third Brandenburg Concerto ; the solos oppose it with their own contrasting theme. In the middle movement the simple bass line indicates a simple, almost archaic harmonies over which the two upper parts a very expressive and many suspensions develop marked duet. The final movement is a fugue, the extended interlude of which surprisingly introduces a clearly contrasting second theme “ cantabile ” - this gives the movement echoes of the sensitive style that would only emerge in the next generation.

Further chamber music with viol

Trio for oboe d'amore, viola da gamba and continuo

This lost composition is still preserved and can be reconstructed from the Fourth Organ Trio Sonata (BWV 528).

Notes on the Internet