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
Constantinos Volanakis (1837-1907) - Boats at Sea
