Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord No. 1 in G major BWV 1027
The first of three sonatas composed at Cöthen for viola da gamba and obbligato harpsichord. On modern cello, the piece reads as chamber music between equals rather than soloist-with-continuo: Bach gives the keyboardist a fully written-out right hand that trades material with the cellist throughout. The opening Adagio is lyrical and gently ornamented; the ensuing Allegro ma non tanto is one of Bach's most graceful fugues. BWV 1027 survives in an earlier version as the Trio Sonata BWV 1039 for two flutes and continuo, and the gamba sonata can be read as Bach's reworking of that material.
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Write the first performer's note, a practice note on a specific passage, or an interpretive school you'd defend in front of colleagues.
I. Adagio
II. Allegro ma non tanto
III. Andante
IV. Allegro moderato
Bärenreiter
Part of the Neue Bach-Ausgabe. The most thorough scholarly text, with alternative harpsichord realisations.
Henle Verlag
Urtext edition with separate cello and harpsichord parts. Includes both the Leipzig and Cöthen readings in the critical commentary.