The Sonata in E major for flute and basso continuo (
BWV 1035) is a sonata for
transverse flute and
figured bass composed by
J. S. Bach in the 1740s. It was written as the result of a visit in 1741 to the court of
Frederick the Great in
Potsdam, where Bach's son
Carl Philipp Emanuel had been appointed principal
harpsichord
A harpsichord ( it, clavicembalo; french: clavecin; german: Cembalo; es, clavecín; pt, cravo; nl, klavecimbel; pl, klawesyn) is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. This activates a row of levers that turn a trigger mechanism ...
ist to the king the previous year. It was dedicated to
Michael Gabriel Fredersdorf, the king's valet and private secretary, who, like the king, was an amateur flautist.
Origins and musical structure
The surviving nineteenth-century sources for the sonata carry dedications to
Frederick the Great's private secretary,
Michael Gabriel Fredersdorf: one of the earliest hand copies of BWV 1035 is annotated "after the autograph by the composer, which was written anno 17--, when he was at Potsdam, for privy chamberlain Fredersdorf." Fredersdorf had been taught to play the flute by his father, a
''Stadtpfeifer'' in
Frankfurt. He acted as an intermediary with the
Dresden flautist-composer
Joachim Quantz, who not only composed for Frederick but also gave him lessons and supplied him with instruments. When Frederick became king in 1740, he appointed Bach's son
Carl Philipp Emanuel as the principal court harpsichordist. One and a half year's later in December 1741, Quantz also joined the court where he served as composer and flute teacher until the end of his career. Before that, in the summer of 1741 Bach made his first visit to Berlin, staying near the royal palace on
Unter den Linden with his friend Georg Ernst Stahl, a court doctor. As his correspondence with his family in Leipzig shows, on this first visit Bach did not have an official audience with the king, but—in view of the dedication—must have conferred with Fredersdorf.
Movements
# Adagio ma non tanto, E major
# Allegro, E major
# Siciliano, C minor
# Allegro assai, E major
The opening
movement
Movement may refer to:
Common uses
* Movement (clockwork), the internal mechanism of a timepiece
* Motion, commonly referred to as movement
Arts, entertainment, and media
Literature
* "Movement" (short story), a short story by Nancy Fu ...
, Adagio ma non tanto, contains many expressive and elaborate baroque ornaments including the king's favourite "tierces ornées"—intermediate notes added to a falling third, creating a sighing ''
Affekt
The doctrine of the affections, also known as the ''doctrine of affects'', ''doctrine of the passions'', ''theory of the affects'', or by the German term Affektenlehre (after the German ''Affekt''; plural ''Affekte'') was a theory in the aesthe ...
''. As comments, this was probably the only time Bach used ornamentation of this kind.
:
The alternation of the semidemiquaver
melismas with the semiquaver triplet passages along with the passages of coupled semiquaver figures are also typical of Bach's Leipzig style. Likewise the dancelike Allegro in a lively time signature follows the pattern of his Leipzig works, an acquiescence to the ''
galant
The galant style was an 18th-century movement in music, visual arts and literature. In Germany a closely related style was called the '' empfindsamer Stil'' (sensitive style). Another close relative is rococo style. The galant style was drawn in ...
'' style so popular at the time. In the slow Siciliano, the opening theme of the flute is taken up in
canon a bar later in the bass line. The movement itself is in the key of C minor, but modulates through many keys before returning to the original key. The last Allegro assai also has ''galant'' elements, with its
binary form
Binary form is a musical form in 2 related sections, both of which are usually repeated. Binary is also a structure used to choreograph dance. In music this is usually performed as A-A-B-B.
Binary form was popular during the Baroque period, of ...
—like the second and third movements—and its quirky dancelike rhythms. Both fast movements contain trills and brilliant semiquaver passagework. has suggested that BWV 1035 can be considered as a
sonata da camera
Sonata da camera is a 17th-century genre of musical composition for one or more melody instruments and basso continuo. It generally comprises a suite of several small pieces in the same mode or key that are suitable for dancing. A significant numb ...
, with the first movement playing the role of a prelude and the subsequent binary movements corresponding to dances. He has proposed that the fast movements correspond to specific dance forms: the second movement to a
rigaudon, a French dance appearing for example in the fourth of
François Couperin
François Couperin (; 10 November 1668 – 11 September 1733) was a French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist. He was known as ''Couperin le Grand'' ("Couperin the Great") to distinguish him from other members of the musically talented ...
's ''
Concerts Royaux'' (1722); and the fourth movement to a spritely
polonaise. The third slow movement, as indicated in the score, is a
siciliano
The siciliana or siciliano (also known as the sicilienne or the ciciliano) is a musical style or genre often included as a movement within larger pieces of music starting in the Baroque period. It is in a slow or time with lilting rhythms, ...
.
Arrangements and transcriptions
*Transcription in F major for
alto recorder and harpsichord, published by
Schott, Heinrichshofen's Verlag,
Universal
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Universal may also refer to:
Companies
* NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company
** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal
** Universal TV, a t ...
and Dowani International (with a practice CD).
*Transcription in C major for oboe and harpsichord by
Gonzalo X. Ruiz, 2005.
*Arrangement for flute and guitar by Michael Langer, Doblinger, 1997.
Selected recordings
The sonata was written for
transverse flute and
continuo, but has been arranged for other instruments (see above). The sonata, and its transposed version in F major for alto recorder, are part of the standard examination repertoire for the
ABRSM and other national examining boards.
Figured bass on harpsichord
*
Jean-Pierre Rampal and
Robert Veyron-Lacroix
Robert Veyron-Lacroix (13 December 1922 in Paris – 2 April 1991 in Garches (Hauts-de-Seine)) was a French harpsichordist and pianistPâris, Alain. Robert Veyron-Lacroix. In: ''Dictionnaire des interprètes''. Éditions Robert Laffont, Paris, ...
(harpsichord)
Erato
In Greek mythology, Erato (; grc, Ἐρατώ) is one of the Greek Muses, which were inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. The name would mean "desired" or "lovely", if derived from the same root as Eros, as Apollonius o ...
, 1973 (there are many recordings from the period 1950–1981).
*
Elaine Shaffer
Elaine Shaffer (October 22, 1925 – February 19, 1973) was an American flutist and principal of the Houston Symphony Orchestra between 1948 and 1953.
Biography
Elaine Shaffer was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania. She attended the Curtis Inst ...
, Ambrose Gauntlett (
viola da gamba),
George Malcolm (harpsichord),
Angel
*
Maxence Larrieu
Maxence Larrieu (born 27 October 1934 in Marseille) is a French classical flautist.
Career
He studied flute from age 10 at the Marseille Conservatory of Music with Joseph Rampal, who was the father of Jean-Pierre Rampal
Jean-Pierre Louis ...
,
Rafael Puyana
Rafael Antonio Lázaro Puyana Michelsen (14 October 19311 March 2013) was a Colombian harpsichordist.
Puyana was born in Bogotá in 1931, and began piano lessons at age 6 with his aunt and at age 13 made his debut at the Teatro Colón in Bogot ...
(harpsichord),
Wieland Kuijken
Wieland Kuijken (; born Dilbeek, 31 August 1938) is a Belgium, Belgian musician and player of the viola da gamba and baroque cello.
Biography
Kuijken started his career in music in 1952 with the Brussels Alariusensemble of which he formed part un ...
(viola da gamba), Philips, 1967.
*
Peter-Lukas Graf
Peter-Lukas Graf (5 January 1929) is a Swiss flautist born in Zürich, Switzerland. He was a pupil of André Jaunet, and later attended the Paris Conservatoire, where he won first prize with Marcel Moyse and Roger Cortot. Besides playing the f ...
, Manfred Sax (
bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family, which plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuo ...
),
Jörg Ewald Dähler
Jörg Ewald Dähler (16 March 1933 – 3 November 2018), is a Swiss conductor, harpsichordist, forte piano player and composer.
Life
Born in Bern, Dähler, son of the reformed pastor Karl Walter Dähler (1903-1986), grew up in Langnau im Emme ...
(harpsichord),
Claves, 1968.
* Peter-Lukas Graf, Johannes Koch (viola da gamba) and Henriette Barbe (harpsichord), Jecklin, 1984.
*
Frans Brüggen
Franciscus ("Frans") Jozef Brüggen (30 October 1934 – 13 August 2014) was a Dutch Conducting, conductor, recorder player and baroque flautist.
Biography
Born in Amsterdam, Brüggen was the last of the nine children of August Brüggen, a textile ...
,
Anner Bylsma (
cello),
Gustav Leonhardt
Gustav Maria Leonhardt (30 May 1928 – 16 January 2012) was a Dutch keyboardist, conductor, musicologist, teacher and editor. He was a leading figure in the historically informed performance movement to perform music on period instruments.
Leo ...
(harpsichord), Pro-Arte, 1986.
* Marc Beaucoudray,
William Christie (harpsichord),
Harmonia Mundi, 1982.
*
Aurèle Nicolet
Aurèle Nicolet (22 January 1926 – 29 January 2016) was a Swiss flautist. He was considered one of the world's best flute players of the late twentieth century.
He performed in various international concerts. A number of composers wrote music ...
, Mari Fujiwara (harpsichord),
Denon
is a Japanese electronics company started in 1910 by Frederick Whitney Horn, an American entrepreneur. Denon produced the first cylinder audio media in Japan and players to play them. Decades later, Denon was involved in the early stages of de ...
, 1992.
*
Ashley Solomon
Ashley Solomon is a British flute and recorder player. He is both professor of recorder and head of the historical performance department of the Royal College of Music in London. He has taught there since 1994, and became the first head of the ...
, Terence Charlston (harpsichord),
Channel Classics
Channel Classics Records is a record label from the Netherlands, specializing in classical music. The managing director and producer is C. Jared Sacks, who grew up in Boston. Sacks was schooled as a professional horn player at the Oberlin Conserva ...
, 2000.
*
Barthold Kuijken
Barthold Kuijken (; born 8 March 1949, Dilbeek) is a Belgians, Belgian flautist and Recorder (musical instrument), recorder player, known for playing baroque music on Historically informed performance, historical instruments and particularly kno ...
, Ewald Demeyere (harpsichord),
Accent Accent may refer to:
Speech and language
* Accent (sociolinguistics), way of pronunciation particular to a speaker or group of speakers
* Accent (phonetics), prominence given to a particular syllable in a word, or a word in a phrase
** Pitch ac ...
, 2003.
*
Emmanuel Pahud,
Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord),
Warner Classics, 2008.
*
James Galway, Sarah Cunningham (viola da gamba), Philip Moll (harpsichord),
Sony Classical, 2009.
* Rachel Brown, Katherine Sharman (cello),
Laurence Cummings
Laurence Cummings (born 1968, Birmingham) is a British harpsichordist, organist, and conductor. He is currently music director of the Academy of Ancient Music.
Biography
Cummings was educated at Solihull School, Christ Church, Oxford and th ...
(harpsichord), Uppernote, 2016.
Figured bass on fortepiano
* Christopher Krueger, Laura Jeppesen (viola da gamba), John Gibbons (fortepiano),
Centaur Records, 1997.
* Susan Rotholz, Kenneth Cooper (fortepiano),
Bridge Records, 2002.
Figured bass on lute
*
Lisa Beznosiuk
Lisa Beznosiuk (born 20 August 1956 in Sheffield) is an English flautist of Ukrainian and Irish descent, specializing in period performance of baroque and classical music on historical flutes.
Biography and career
Lisa Beznosiuk trained at th ...
, Richard Tunnicliffe (cello) and
Elizabeth Kenny (lute),
Hyperion
Hyperion may refer to:
Greek mythology
* Hyperion (Titan), one of the twelve Titans
* ''Hyperion'', a byname of the Sun, Helios
* Hyperion of Troy or Yperion, son of King Priam
Science
* Hyperion (moon), a moon of the planet Saturn
* ''Hyp ...
, 2002.
Piano accompaniment
*
Georges Laurent, Harry Cumpson (piano), Columbia
etween 1933 and 1936, one of the earliest recordings of the workre
Christopher Steward's early flute recordings: Georges Laurenta
/ref>
*
Peter-Lukas Graf
Peter-Lukas Graf (5 January 1929) is a Swiss flautist born in Zürich, Switzerland. He was a pupil of André Jaunet, and later attended the Paris Conservatoire, where he won first prize with Marcel Moyse and Roger Cortot. Besides playing the f ...
, Aglaia Graf (piano),
Claves, 2005.
* Andrea Oliva,
Angela Hewitt (piano)
Hyperion
Hyperion may refer to:
Greek mythology
* Hyperion (Titan), one of the twelve Titans
* ''Hyperion'', a byname of the Sun, Helios
* Hyperion of Troy or Yperion, son of King Priam
Science
* Hyperion (moon), a moon of the planet Saturn
* ''Hyp ...
, 2013.
Guitar accompaniment
*
Gary Schocker
Gary Schocker (born October 18, 1959) is an American flutist, composer, and pianist who has performed with the New York Philharmonic (at age 15, in a nationally televised Young People's Concert), the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New Jersey Symphon ...
,
Jason Vieaux (guitar), Azica, 2004.
*
Marina Piccinini
Marina Piccinini (born 1968) is an Italian American virtuoso flautist. She is noted for her performances of compositions by Mozart and Bach, and has performed with many of the world's top orchestras and conductors.
Early life and education
Mar ...
, João Luiz & Douglas Lora (guitars), Avie, 2010.
Transcriptions
*
Marion Verbruggen
Marion Verbruggen (born 1950) is a Dutch recorder player and teacher.
Verbruggen was born in Amsterdam and studied with Kees Otten at the Amsterdam Conservatory. She then studied at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague with Frans Brüggen. Upon co ...
(alto recorder), Christina Mahler (cello), John Gibbons (harpsichord),
Titanic, 1988.
*
Michala Petri
Michala Petri (born July 7, 1958) is a Danish recorder player. Her debut as a soloist was in 1969. She is the step-granddaughter of Danish actress Ingeborg Brams.
Biography
Petri, who began playing the recorder at the age of three, is noted for ...
(alto recorder),
Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett (born May 8, 1945) is an American jazz and classical music pianist and composer. Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey and later moved on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s, he has also been a ...
(harpsichord),
RCA, 1992.
*
Hugo Reyne
Hugo Reyne (born in 1961) is a contemporary French recorder player, oboist and conductor. He is the founder and music director of La Simphonie du Marais.
Biography
Born in Paris, Hugo Reyne began learning the flute and oboe at a very young a ...
(alto recorder), Emmanuelle Guiges (viola da gamba),
Pierre Hantaï (harpsichord), Mirare, 2009.
*
Gonzalo X. Ruiz (
baroque oboe), Joanna Blendulf (cello), Katherine Shao (harpsichord), ''J. S. Bach, Transcriptions for Baroque Oboe'', La Riche & Co, 2005.
Arrangements
* Eric Ruske (
horn
Horn most often refers to:
*Horn (acoustic), a conical or bell shaped aperture used to guide sound
** Horn (instrument), collective name for tube-shaped wind musical instruments
*Horn (anatomy), a pointed, bony projection on the head of various ...
), Pedja Muzijevic (piano), ''The Classic Horn – World Premiere Transcriptions'',
Albany Records, 2003
*
Eugene Rousseau (saxophone),
Hans Graf (piano), ''Saxophone Colors'',
Delos Records
Delos Productions is an American record label. Long in Los Angeles but now headquartered in Sonoma, California, it specializes in classical music. The Delos label was founded in 1973 by Amelia S. Haygood (1919–2007), whose stewardship of the co ...
, 1992
Notes
References
Published editions
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Books and journal articles
*
*
*
*
*
*
* (also a reprint of a 1985 publication in ''Early Music'')
*
Further reading
* (translated from the Swedish by Joel Speerstra)
*
External links
*
{{Authority control
Flute sonatas by Johann Sebastian Bach
Compositions in E major
1741 compositions
Music dedicated to benefactors or patrons