JSBACH: SONATAS FOR VIOLA DA GAMBA & HARPSICHORD

JSBACH: SONATAS FOR VIOLA DA GAMBA & HARPSICHORD

Sonata in G Major BWV 1027*
Sonata in D Major BWV 1028*
Sonata in G minor BWV 1029*
(*with viola and organ)

Suite for Harpsichord in A minor, BWV 818a

1 CD

Luca Lazzarini, viola
Nicola Reniero, harpsichord

The three sonatas on this album are among Bach's most famous and performed compositions and constitute one of the pinnacles of viola da gamba literature. For this recording, however, the viola da braccio was chosen, following a practice established in the Baroque period that preceded and accompanied the decline of the viola da gamba. The structure of these pieces is that of trio sonatas, a genre widely practiced by the composer. The structure is essentially polyphonic and does not allow one instrument to dominate over the other. The organ was used in place of the harpsichord on some pieces in this recording, to explore new timbral solutions and offer a different instrumental color.