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Double Violin Concerto - J. S. Bach (1723)
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Concerto for Two Violins and Strings in D minor, BWV1043

Background

Kothen - photograph courtesy of Johan De BoerDuring the years 1717-1723, Bach was a musical manager in the court of young prince Leopold of Kothen. The prince, who was an accomplished player of the violin, the viola da-gamba and the clavier, employed a professional orchestra of 18 musicians. Bach's works, during these years, were mainly instrumental and secular, among them, the Concerto for Two Violins. When Bach passed away, his musical library was divided between his two eldest sons, Wilhelm Friedemann and Carl Philipp Emanuel. The first, talented but irresponsible, lost the works entrusted in his hands. The latter kept the material in a package, finding its way at last to a museum in Berlin. The Concerto for Two Violins was in this collection.


About the piece

The concerto consists of three movements, as customary:

1st movement (vivace) - an energetic movement, with a fascinating dialogue between two solo violins in a strict canon, equal in theme development throughout the entire movement.

2nd movement (largo, ma non tento) - an elegant movement in F major, that made the work famous, one of Bach's best known and loved pieces. Alternately, one of the violins plays the melody, as the other one accompanies.

3rd movement (allegro) - a vivid, powerful movement, built on a tempestuous theme, presented by both solo violins.

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