‘A triumph of spirit over matter’ : conjectures about Johann Sebastian Bach’s Sei solo a violino senza basso accompagnato (BWV 1001-1006)

Abstract

I recorded the Solo Sonatas and Partitas in July and September 2004. Among the many performances I gave in preparation for the recording were three short concerts in the University of Music in Dresden, Germany, on June 23rd 2004. Each concert featured one sonata and one partita, the three concerts presenting all six works in order. In the extended intermissions between the concerts a symposium took place, organized by Ludger Remy, then Professor of Early Music at the University. The main speaker at the symposium was Dominik Sackmann. His subject – Thoughts on the Purpose behind the Composition of the Sei Solo a Violino, and on their Environment – became the basis of the monograph presented here. It consists of a compact survey of the current state of musicological research into Bach’s violin solos, as well as some fascinating and important discussion of the possible dating of their composition. The monograph was originally published in German by Carus-Verlag, who have kindly allowed this English language version. John Holloway