J.S. Bach: 6 Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin, BWVV 1001-1006

Featuring

Anca Vasile Caraman
Johann Sebastian Bach

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Composition History

Bach composed the Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin during his time at the court of Prince Leopold in Köthen, where he was encouraged to write secular instrumental works.

Composition History

The autograph manuscript of Bach's Six Solos for Violin without Bass Accompaniment, later known as Sonatas and Partitas, dates back to 1720.

Compositional Technique

Bach's collection weaves complex polyphonic pieces by enabling a single melody to contain both horizontal and vertical dimensions, building on the German violin school's use of double chords.

Performer Biography

Anca Vasile Caraman, the violinist on this recording, began studying violin at age 4 and has won 9 national prizes in Romania and 3 international prizes.

Compositional Technique

Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for violin are considered an experimental work that explores the idiomatic character of the instrument, similar to his Brandenburg Concertos and The Well-Tempered Clavier.

Critical Reception

The Sonatas and Partitas only entered the standard repertoire and became an essential benchmark for violin literature through the efforts of violinist Josef Joachim in the 19th century.

Composer's Artistic Vision

The collection combines two instrumental genres: the severe four-movement 'church sonatas' and the more worldly 'partitas,' which are sequences of dance rhythms.