J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Country:Germany
One of the essential elements of Bach’s art as a keyboard composer is the attention he gave, out of respect, not only the differences between organ and harpsichord but also those within the family of string keyboard instruments, of which he used at least four types: harpsichord, clavichord, lute-harpsichord and fortepiano. He is specific about the main kinds of harpsichord in the Clavier-Übung(the first part is for one-manual harpsichord, the second and fourth for a two-manual instrument). One of the earliest manuscript sources refers to the suitability of the E minor suite bwv996 for the lute-harpsichord (‘aufs Lauten Werk’).
Bach took an active interest in J.G. Silbermann’s experiments in developing the fortepiano during the 1730s and 40s. There is reliable testimony that he improvised on several new Silbermann fortepianos of different types in the presence of Frederick the Great in Potsdam in 1747, which makes it possible to regard the three-part ricercar of the Musical Offeringas conceived primarily for this new kind of keyboard instrument.Bach’s harpsichord works were available in Italy, France, Austria and England by 1750, and in view of this it is not surprising that the young Beethoven was schooled in the ‘48’. The growing recognition of the significance of this part of his output was reflected in the first complete edition of the works for harpsichord (begun in Leipzig in 1800 by Hoffmeister & Kühnel and continued by C.F. Peters) in which Forkel, among others, was involved. Concerto for two Harpsichords
- Bach was the first to write for harpsichord concertos with orchestral accompaniment.
- He was also the first to compose concertos for two, three and even four harsichords.
- Some were originally written as solo or double concertos for violin, and onlylater were they arranged to suit the keyboard.
- Both concertos for two harpsichords in C minor and C majordate from middle of Bach’s timein Liepzig.
- The first wasoriginally for violin and oboe in D minor.
- Though instrumentation has been changed, the original violin and onoe parts can be picked out from the right-hand staves of the two harpsichord parts.
- The violin and oboe version is more interesting because both solo instruments offer a contrast in tone which is impossible in keyboard arrangement.
- Nothing is suggested that the C major concerto is an arrangement; it must be intended for harpsichords from the first.
- Bach’s keyboard style prevails throughout.
- The broadly expanding solo episodes in the fugue show him developing his music with two precisely similar instruments in mind.
- A third concerto, also for two harpsichord is hardly ever played.
- It has an exact transcription of the well-known double violin concerto in D minor.
- The arrangement can never attain the romantic charm of the original.
