Bach, J.S., 3 Sonatas BWV 1020-1023 for Violin and Piano (Henle)

These three separately transmitted sonatas hide some attribution problems. BWV 1020 (the Sonata in g minor) is quite possibly by Bach’s son Carl Philipp Emanuel, and today is mostly played on the flute even though the sources assign it to the violin. It is interesting, however, that d1 is the lowest melodic note in the piece, which might mean that it is a flute arrangement of a violin sonata. The other two sonatas also stand on an uncertain footing in regard to their sources. On the other hand, their elegant slow movements are crafted with a melodic mastery such as is often found in Johann Sebastian Bach’s music. As long as there is no definitive evidence for attribution to another composer, we shall continue to respect the traditional attribution to “Father” Bach.

Contents:

• Violin Sonata G major BWV 1021
• Violin Sonata e minor BWV 1023
• Appendix: Sonata (with Piano obbligato) g minor BWV 1020

Johann Sebastian Bach, composer of the Baroque era, the most celebrated member of a large family of north German musicians. Although he was admired by his contemporaries primarily as an outstanding harpsichordist, organist, and expert on organ building, Bach is now generally regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time and is celebrated as the creator of the Brandenburg Concertos, The Well-Tempered Clavier, the Mass in B Minor, and numerous other masterpieces of church and instrumental music.