J.S. Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin

Johann Sebastian Bach composed the Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin (BWV 1001–1006) in the small German town of Köthen. During this period, between 1717 and 1723, he served as the conductor of a royal ensemble comprising accomplished musicians employed by Prince Leopold, a ruler renowned for his passion for music. It is believed that the autographs of three sonatas (in G minor, A minor and C major) and the three partitas (in B minor, D minor and E major) were written by Bach in 1720 during his tenure in Köthen. However, it is also possible that he had composed them earlier, in Weimar, where he had been employed as a court concertmaster; a professional violinist in the royal orchestra from 1714. Bach titled the pieces Sei Solo a Violino senza Basso accompagnato, which translates as Six Solos for Violin Without Bass Accompaniment. The title serves to blur the marked generic distinction between the groups of sonatas and partitas, as well as to emphasise the role of the solo violin in the composition, making a departure from the common Baroque practice of having the basso continuo accompaniment. It is noteworthy that the title page of the manuscript bears the note "Libro primo - Volume One," which may indicate that the six Suites for solo cello were "Libro secondo - Volume Two."   

Release date: 2024.09.13, HCD 32904-05

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