Concerto for Two Violins (Bach)

Double Violin Concerto in D minor, BWV 1043 1. Vivace Performed by the Advent Chamber Orchestra with David Perry and Roxana Pavel Goldstein (violins). For another version, see here. 2. Largo ma non tanto Performed by the Advent Chamber Orchestra with David Perry and Roxana Pavel Goldstein (violins) 3. Allegro Performed by the Advent Chamber Orchestra with David Perry and Roxana Pavel Goldstein (violins)

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The Concerto for Two Violins, Strings, and Continuo in D minor, BWV 1043, also known as the Double Violin Concerto, is perhaps one of the most famous works by J. S. Bach and considered among the best examples of the work of the late Baroque period. Bach may have written it between 1717 and 1723 when he was the Kapellmeister at the court of Anhalt-Köthen, Germany,^[1] though the work's performance materials for the Ordinaire Concerten that Bach ran as the Director of the Collegium Musicum in Leipzig are dated c. 1730-31.^[2] Later in 1739, in Leipzig, he created an arrangement for two harpsichords, transposed into C minor, BWV 1062.^[1] In addition to the two soloists, the concerto is scored for strings and basso continuo.

The concerto is characterized by the subtle yet expressive relationship between the violins throughout the work. The musical structure of this piece uses fugal imitation and much counterpoint.

The concerto comprises three movements:

1. Vivace
2. Largo ma non tanto
3. Allegro

References

External links

• Concerto for Two Violins (Bach) at the Mutopia Project
• Double Violin Concerto: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Yehudi Menuhin and David Oistrakh playing it on YouTube (VIDEO)