HDM in Concert: Bach - Sonatas & Partitas I

J.S. Bach's sonatas and partitas have been preserved as an autograph; this document is one of the most beautiful manuscript testimonies in music history. It only reappeared around 1890 and was offered for sale to Johannes Brahms, who doubted its authenticity. Today its authenticity has been proven, the original is in the Berlin State Library and is widely available as a facsimile. Bach noted the year 1720 on the title page. It can be assumed that the works were written during Bach's first, happy period as "Hochfürstlich Anhalt-Cöthnischer würcklicher Capellmeister" at the court of the enlightened Prince Leopold von Anhalt-Köthen from 1717 for playing music in a small circle. Today, the pieces are regarded as the "Old Testament of violin music" and will be performed in two concerts at the HDM.

Fabio Nieder, the unmistakable composer from Trieste who lives in Romania, will contribute new pieces for both concerts. The first piece for this concert refers to the Chaconne from Bach's D minor Partita. "It is an almost exclusively monodic composition. The sound of the violinist, alla corda, and almost with the character of a speaking hoarse voice, articulates a ductus in which one imagines to hear words. Words that remain hidden in the instrumental sound," says Fabio Nieder.