The mandolin and violin share the same tuning of e''-a'-d'-g, meaning they have almost the same tonal range, and most of Bach's violin chords are easily playable on the mandolin.
Compositional Technique
The Solo-Violinzyklus BWV 1001-1006 includes Sonatas, which are based on the Italian 'Sonata da chiesa' form (slow-fast-slow-fast), and Partitas, which are sequences of stylized dance movements.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Bach was a talented transcriber, and the existence of several versions of his works for different instruments suggests he considered his music universal, where changing the instrument would not harm the work.
Composition History
The precise composition history of Bach's violin solos is still debated, but they are roughly dated between his time as Konzertmeister in Weimar (around 1714) and Kapellmeister in Köthen (between 1719/20).
Composer Biography
Johann Sebastian Bach's violin playing was described by his son Carl Philipp Emanuel as 'cleanly and with a penetrating tone,' and he understood all stringed instruments perfectly.
Performer Biography
Florian Klaus Rumpf, the mandolinist on this album, began studying the mandolin at age seven and is highly sought after as a soloist, tutor, and conductor of mandolin orchestras.
Recording & Production
Florian Klaus Rumpf listened to about 100 different recordings of Bach's Sonatas and Partitas during his technical preparation, but stopped listening at a certain point to develop his own interpretation.
