Bach: Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin

Featuring

Dénes Zsigmondy
Johann Sebastian Bach

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Compositional Technique

The three sonatas follow the Italian church sonata form, featuring a slow movement, followed by a fugue, another slow movement, and a concluding fast movement.

Compositional Technique

Bach's three-voice fugues for unaccompanied string instruments rely on 'false polyphony' and his deep understanding of violin technique, making them challenging even for top violinists.

Performer Biography

Dénes Zsigmondy, the violinist on this recording, changed his birth name, Dénes Hugo Liedemann, to his paternal grandmother's maiden name.

Composition History

The Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin were possibly dedicated to Johann Georg Pisendel, a renowned violinist of Bach's era, who introduced Bach to Antonio Vivaldi's music.

Composition History

Johann Sebastian Bach composed his Works for Solo Violin BWV 1001-1006 between 1717 and 1723, during his time as Hofkapellmeister for Prince Leopold von Anhalt-Köthen.

Recording & Production

This recording was made in May 1995 when Dénes Zsigmondy, at 73, recorded himself alone in the Church of St. Johann Baptist in Holzhausen, without an engineer present.