Bach composed his two violin concertos, along with many other instrumental works, during his years of service to Prince Leopold at Anhalt-Cöthen, where his primary duty was to provide court music.
Composition History
Unlike Bach's concertos, Handel's violin sonatas were published during his lifetime, with three included in his Opus 1 by John Walsh of England in 1730.
Critical Reception
Bach's violin concertos were forgotten after his death and only rediscovered and performed again in the mid-19th century, following a revival instigated by Mendelssohn.
Interpretation
Mischa Elman's interpretations of these Baroque works display a 'romantic' style, focusing on beauty of sound and lingering on phrases, which contrasts with modern 'authentic' performance practices.
Performer Biography
Mischa Elman, a Russian-Jewish violinist, rose to international prominence in his teens and was regarded as one of the premier violinists of his day by his New York debut in 1908.
Compositional Technique
Bach's two solo violin concertos were modeled after the three-movement ritornello concerto form developed by Vivaldi.
Recording & Production
This album features recordings by Mischa Elman of Baroque masterworks by Bach and Handel, spanning a 20-year period, with the Bach Concerto recorded in 1931 and the Handel sonatas nearly 20 years later.
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