Sei solo II
Marco Graziani, violin
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach: BWV 1004, 1005, 1006
Sonatas and partitas for solo violinby Johann Sebastian Bach changed the course of development of the violinist literature. The six multi-movement compositions carrying the numbers of Bach’s works (BWV or Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis) from 1001 to 1006 were composed around 1720, not long before the Leipzig period of Bach’s life started, for which he is most remembered. However, a wider popularity of that work could only be achieved in the 19th century, with the emergence of virtuosos who could perform the extremely complex part devised by the composer. The four violin strings in Bach’s idea represent the entire orchestra, in a polyphonic composition, so the artists who tackle those demanding pieces have to persuade the audience that even a solo violin can perform a fugue.
Structurally, the cycle is divided into three sonatas and three partitas, the two main baroque instrumental forms. Bach’s solo violin sonatas were composed in the form of sonata da chiesa, a four-movement composition, in which the first and the third are in a slow, and the second and the fourth movements are in a fast tempo. In addition, Bach had arranged the first two movements of all three sonatas as a blend of prelude and fugue. The partitas for solo violin are a reference to the suite tradition, a baroque dance form whose main movements are the moderate Allemande, the fast Courante or Corrente, the slow Sarabande, and the fast Gigue. As a complement to the basic movements, Bach had also added others, such as Gavotte, Menuet, or Bourrée. A technically and musically particularly demanding movement is Ciaccona from Partita No. 2, a complex polyphonic piece that consists of a theme and 32 variations.
(Domagoj Marić)