Three Sonatas for Viola da Gamba - for Viola (BWV 1027 - 1029) (Urtext)

Barenreiter Urtext performance score and set of parts for Viola da Gamba (Viola) and Harpsichord, edited by Hans Eppstein.

The three sonatas for Viola da gamba and Harpsichord obbligato by Johann Sebastian Bach BWV 1027–1029 edited here both in the original version with viola da gamba and in a version with viola have been handed down to us only as separate works. Neither source material nor style indicate that the three works – as, for example, the six sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord BWV 1014–1019 – should be regarded as a whole. It is provable or at least feasible that all three sonatas were not originally conceived for this instrumentation. The musical substance and, therefore, the artistic status of the sonatas were not affected by this transcription.

Three sonatas for Viola de Gamba is on the ABRSM Bowed Strings Syllabus 2019-2023 for Grade 8. ‘Vivace’ (1st move from sonata No.3 in G minor BWV 1029) by J.S Bach is one of the alternative pieces on the syllabus.

Bach, Johann Sebastian - Sonata for Viola da Gamba (Viola) and Harpsichord Obbligato G-Dur / in G major, BWV 1027

Bach, Johann Sebastian - Sonata for Viola da Gamba (Viola) and Harpsichord Obbligato D-Dur / in D major, BWV 1028

Bach, Johann Sebastian - Sonata for Viola da Gamba (Viola) and Harpsichord Obbligato g-Moll / in G minor, BWV 1029