James Ehnes performs on a 1715 'Marsick' Stradivarius violin.
Performer Biography
James Ehnes recorded a new online recital series, 'Recitals from Home', during the COVID-19 pandemic, which included Bach's Six Sonatas and Partitas and Ysaÿe's Six Sonatas.
Composer Biography
Bach, though not primarily known as a violinist, was considered a fine player, with his son Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach noting his 'clean and penetrating' violin playing.
Compositional Technique
Unlike Vivaldi's concertos, Bach's instrumental textures are richer, rarely reducing the accompaniment to a single continuo line in solo episodes, and featuring much more musical counterpoint.
Composition History
Bach's initial significant engagement with the concerto genre began in 1708 when he became a violinist in Duke Wilhelm Ernst's court orchestra at Weimar, where he had access to a large collection of concertos by Italian masters.
Performer Biography
James Ehnes, the violinist on this recording, is a highly acclaimed musician who has won two GRAMMY Awards, three Gramophone Awards, and twelve JUNO Awards.
Compositional Technique
Bach's concertos often feature a blurring of the distinction between the orchestral ritornello (theme) and solo episodes, creating a freer 'dialogue' between the soloist and orchestra.
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