Bach, Concerto/Konzert in A minor BWV 1041 for Violin and Piano (Peters)

Bach, Concerto/Konzert in A minor BWV 1041 for Violin and Piano (Peters)

Edition for violin and piano

Violin part edited by David Oistrack with piano reduction by Wilhelm Weismann

This concerto is a wonderful example of Bach's innovative approach to an already well established concerto form.  

The concerto has three movements:

1. Allegro, in A Minor (2/4) meter;
2. Andante, in C Major (4/4) meter;
3. Allegro assai, in A Minor (9/8) meter.

The motifs of the theme of the Allegro moderato appear in changing combinations and are separated and intensified throughout the movement.

In the Andante Bach uses an insistent pattern in the ostinato bass part that is repeated constantly in the movement. He focuses the variation in the harmonic relations.

In the final movement Bach relies on bariolage figures to generate striking acoustic effects. The meter and rhythm are those of a gigue.

This is a baroque concerto in ritornello form. In ritornello form, there is a main section that returns in fragments in the solo violin, piano or orchestral parts. This 'ritornello' can be found in the first movement up until bar 24.