JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - Fugue (BWV 1001) performed by SEBASTIAAN DE GREBBER

Sebastiaan de Grebber performs the Fugue in g minor by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). This Fugue is the 2nd composition of Bach's Sonata in g minor BWV 1001 for solo violin. Unfortunately Johann Sebastian Bach did not compose any works for mandolin. In fact, the mandolin had not yet developed into the modern plectrum-played instrument tuned in fifths as we know it today. Perhaps its forerunner, the mandolino, strung with double gut strings (regarded today as the ancestor of the mandolin family), could have been familiar to Bach, as it was to his contemporaries and colleagues like Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759), Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) and Johann Adolf Hasse (1699-1783). Besides the famous concertos for the gut-strung Mandolino by Vivaldi and Hasse, both Händel and Vivaldi composed arias in which the mandolino was given the role of accompaniment.

As far as is known today, Bach did not write music for high-pitched plucked instruments, but since his compositions, especially his Suites, Sonatas and Partitas for solo instruments belong to the most beautiful music of the Baroque period, and knowing that Bach himself transcribed parts of these violin works for other instruments (for instance the Fugue from the first violin Sonata for organ [BWV 539] and for lute [BWV 1000]), the Fugue from the 1st Sonata was selected for this solo mandolin video recording. The mandolin Sebastiaan used here is an Embergher concert mandolin No. 5bis.

To hear Bach's complete Sonata as well as music for solo mandolin by G.Ph. Telemann (1681-1767), R. Calace (1863-1934), G. Pettine (1874-1966), S. Ranieri (1882-1956), N. Paganini (1782-1840), J. Craton (1953- ) and V. Kioulaphides (b. 1961) performed by Sebastiaan de Grebber, please visit de Grebber's website where you find the latest details about his CD recordings, future concerts and is other activities.

Click here: http://www.degrebber-mandolin.com

or visit MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/themandolinist

Category:

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• Sebastian
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• g-minor
• Sonata
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• Grebber
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[cihad2003]

how do you play polyphone with a plektrum?

[OrchestradiMandolini]

Hi @cihad2003, Like with the bow of the violin; listen to the sound(s) of yourself and to the voices you (and the composer) want to sound. Good luck!

[ericoschmitt]

how is it tuned? G D A E as the violin? or C G D A as viola?.. or none?

[OrchestradiMandolini]

Hello @ericoschmitt, the mandolin is tuned like the violin; G-d-a-e. Greetings from Holland.

[ludo8808]

This pick are so big!!! what is this!

I work on this piece since 1 week. Now i know it's possible.

Thanks, very nice.

[OrchestradiMandolini]

Hi ludo8808,

Thanks you for your comment. The plectrum used here is the so-called 'Roman' plectrum. It is indeed long; about 6,5 cm. From tutors written in the long history of the (Italian) mandolin we learn that the wooden- and the birds feather quill - and later those of tortoise shell - always have been quite long and narrow. Only from ca. 1880 the tortoise shell plectrum appeared in a much smaller and a triangle shape. And this only in/around Neaples.

Best, Orchestradimandolini.

[Turchesi]

Molto bello!!! Bravo!

[leoncioviolin]

BRAVÍSIMO!!!!!!, MI ENHORABUENA!

[ir0n2541]

great

[93Mrmusic]

Schön :)

[stnenadkv]

killer



[Goldfinga888]

Congratulations! I am aguitar player but I just recently took up the mandolin and it's inspiring to watch and listen to such a masterful technique. (p.s. My dog is called 'Fuga' after this piece!)

[MrArdelco1970]

Suena fantástic en mandolina :) !

[TheVivaldi666]

Superb technique. Well done indeed.

[dearodear]

Bravo !

è magnifico

[kingofcobwebs]

We think you did an awesome job, Sebastiaan. Beautiful interpretation of Bach's masterpiece.