The Melancholic Bach: Music for Viola da braccio and Harpsichord

What music might Bach have written for solo viola? Emilio Moreno explores the question on this album, which features arrangements of movements from trio sonatas and cantatas as well as organ chorales, with the viola playing the melody and the harpsichord accompanying. Moreno, playing a viola da braccio from 1751, is joined by harpsichordist Aarón Zapico.

Featuring

Emilio Moreno
Aarón Zapico
Johann Sebastian Bach
Anonymous

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Composer Biography

Johann Sebastian Bach's son, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, stated that his father had a strong preference for playing the viola.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Bach's preference for the viola was possibly due to its central role in harmony, its middle-centered tessitura, and its lightly nasal and gently melancholic timbre.

Interpretation

The recording revives the ancient practice of diminution and ornamentation of polyphonic vocal pieces, using Bach's own pedagogical ornamentations.

Compositional Technique

The album includes adaptations of Bach's chorales, which recall trio sonatas and use thematic material from the chorales themselves.

Interpretation

This album features reconstructions of Bach's works, modeled on his own transcriptions and 'transfers' of pieces by himself and other composers.

Compositional Technique

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Bach infused his viola music with special liveliness and treated it as a solo instrument, as seen in arias with viola obbligato and concertos.

Composer Biography

Bach owned a valuable violin made by Jakob Steiner, a highly regarded luthier north of the Alps, and also possessed three violas da braccio, among other string instruments.