Bach - Sonata for Viola da Gamba & Keyboard in G Minor (1)

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750)

Sonata for viola da gamba and obbligato harpsichord No. 3 in G minor BWV1029

1. Vivace

Performed by Jonathon Manson, viola da gamba
Trevor Pinnock, harpsichord

HIGH QUALITY: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=VJmi7rs5AZ4&fmt=18

*Scholars are not entirely sure when the sonatas for viola da gamba and obbligato haprsichord were written, but it seems most likely that they were composed during the Leipzig years due to their complexity and style.

This sonata is the most unusual of the set. Rather than the Corellian four-movement sonata style of the first and second sonatas, this one follows the Vivaldian three-movement concerto style. Indeed the first movement emulates the concerto syle immensely, particularily with it's ripieno passages and the notable unison passage reminding us of a similar unison tutti in the first movement of the Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 (BWV1047). Bach also uses his standard Leipzig era concerto tempi (vivace, adagio [ma non tanto], allegro). This has lead some musicologists to conjecture that the first movement is an arrangement of a now lost concerto or concerto movement.

If this piece was written during the Leipzig years, then it is likely that it was performed by Herr Bach himself with Karl Friedrich Abel (1723-1787). Karl was a virtuoso gambist and composer for that instrument as well as the son of one of Bach's colleagues at Cothen, and a friend of Bach's son C.P.E. Bach. He was living at the time in Leipzig and it is likely he studied with the master considering these relations and the notable influence of Bach's style on Abel's own. Karl Friedrich Abel would be the last virtuoso performer and composer of the viola da gamba till the 20th century and the revival of early music.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• suite
• harpsichord
• piano
• organ
• sonata
• overture
• concerto
• mass
• passion
• well
• tempered
• clavier
• fugue
• classical
• baroque

[damdarch]

This is my favourite rendition of this sonata. Pinnock is always a crowd pleaser.

[HARMONICO101]

Indeed. Pinnock is a great harpsichordist/conductor.

I also love the intimacy of the recording. Sounds like they are playing right in my living room.

[OedipusColoneus]

This kind of music really needs a direct stereo open door. :)

[HARMONICO101]

Indeed!!

[luniYuhu]

such nice music...isnt the viola beauuutiful?!

[19alexandru88]

Bach sampled Immortal Technique`s Hidden Track ...

[19alexandru88]

@61n9ner lol. 

[61n9ner]

@19alexandru88 you mean tech sampled bach

[stylezNout]

immortal technique got me here

[numb3r2wo]

@19alexandru88 i had to read that a second time to get it.

pretty damn funny. lol

[numb3r2wo]

@19alexandru88 he also sampled him for speak your mind.

i like Bach. He's quite sampleable. lol

[TheLastTrueRoman]

Mangnificent!

[hypershrimp]

@19alexandru88 that made me laugh :D

[Vitisaurio]

I know its quite old this book but Manfred Bukofzer said that this sonatas where writen in Cöten. Not in Leipzig