Italian concertos, by composers like Corelli, Albinoni, Marcello, and Vivaldi, were enthusiastically received in Germany in the early 18th century.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Johann Sebastian Bach, like his friend Georg Philipp Telemann, used the ancient concepts of 'imitatio' (competitive imitation) and 'aemulatio' (surpassing the imitation) in his concerto compositions.
Composition History
Bach's arrangements of Italian concertos for solo organ and harpsichord, written around 1713/14 in Weimar, were a pragmatic way for him to appropriate and study the Italian style.
Historical Context
The term 'concerto' comes from the Italian 'concertare' (to unite) and the Latin 'concertare' (to argue), reflecting the tension in the musical form.
Compositional Technique
Bach's Double Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043, features an impressive equal treatment of the two violins, which literally compete with each other at eye level.
Recording & Production
The Thüringer Bach Collegium, founded in 2018, performs works by Bach, his ancestors, sons, and contemporaries using historically informed practices and instruments.
Performer Biography
Gernot Süßmuth, the artistic director of the Thüringer Bach Collegium, has been the first concertmaster of the Staatskapelle Weimar since 2002.
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