#bach sonata

Bach - Violin Sonata no.2 in a minor, BWV 1003 (c. 1720)

The funny coincidence I’ve just learned about Bach’s solo violin works and solo cello suites is that both weren’t published until after his death, and both were pretty much ignored until decades later when a famous musician discovered them and played them. For the cello suites it was Pablo Casals in the early 20th century, and for the violin sonatas and partitas, it was Joseph Joachim of the late 19th century. It’s also interesting to listen to Bach working with a more “limited” instrument, only because, unlike using a full orchestra or a keyboard, a solo violin or cello can’t play more than two notes at the same time really, an so a lot of chords have to be rolled, and also he uses a lot of “implied” counterpoint, where a note isn’t sounded out the whole way but you still follow that note’s walk up and down a scale, implying it has it’s own voice. The opening of this sonata is almost like an improvisation, courtly and noble. Then we go into an impressive fugue that, because of voicing, feels closer to a two part invention, though the use of chords helps beef it up. The fugue is interrupted by a free flowing string of sixteenth notes that feels like another improvisation, a beautiful moment in the middle of the counterpoint. The andante sounds almost like it comes out of an orchestral suite, a Basso Continuo with “strings” in the higher registers pulling out a delicate melody. The final is very extroverted, with an awkward rhythm, and also uses immediate contrasts from piano to forte. In a way it feels....almost Beethovenian? The contrast from the andante and then the constantly shifting dynamics and catchy rhythm? Maybe that’s out of place to say but I can’t help think this way. It’s a very fun movement that puts the work to a confident close. 

Movements:

1. Grave

2. Fuga

3. Andante

4. Allegro

@mikauzoran / @mikaumusik (which one would you like me to tag? :P), to answer your question about whether I learned the Bach Sonata No. 1 in G Minor... this is how it’s going. Haha. ROUGHHHH. -_-;; Anyway, it sounds better than it did the last time I played it, and I haven’t been all that serious about learning it. I’m not counting the trills and runs properly, just trying to hit the right notes and going by ear. At least, the tempo in this piece is so slow that eighth notes feel like relaxed quarter notes. I’m pretty sure that soloists who play this piece are very liberal with the meter.

I love this piece so much, though. Maybe I’ll ask my teacher if I can focus on learning this instead of the Mozart Concerto. Save that for later. :P

Here’s a lovely actual recording by my favorite violinist. :3

I noticed that it’s written in Dorian (the key signature would correspond to F major instead of Bb major) instead of Aeolian. And the page is just littered with Eb and F# where appropriate. That’s very interesting. I didn’t know composers did that... after having “relative minors” drilled into my brain in music theory class, I assumed all minor pieces were written in Aeolian. I guess it makes sense with melodic minor where the sixth and seventh are constantly being raised and lowered, so you only have to sharp/flat one at a time depending on the phrase. Maybe there’s another reason that I don’t understand due to my limited knowledge of music theory.

Emmanuel Pahud Bach Sonata in e flat major bwv 1031

J.S. Bach Sonata, E Major, 2nd movement 

It is Bach Sonata No. 1, Movement 4, Presto for unaccompanied violin. Has anyone ever played this piece? I love it and I love Bach but I can't practice more than 30 minutes without my left forearm hurting and cramping up. Has anyone had this happen playing this piece or any other presto/allegro/fast-paced solos? 

Also, I'm going to have to memorize it. I have never has experienced with memorizing music like this before. Does anyone have any tricks for memorization?