Susanna Pisana & Maurizio Paciariello - J.E. Bach: 6 Sonatas for Violin & Fortepiano (2024) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Johann Ernst, the third-born son of Johanna Sophia Siefer and Johann Bernhard Bach, was a musician and organist at the Georgenkirche in Eisenach. He was taught first by his father and then, from January 1737 in Leipzig by his uncle and godfather Johann Sebastian Bach, when he moved there to attend the Thomasschule and later to study law. He was forced to abandon his studies there in 1741 upon being called back to Eisenach to help his ill father, and though Ernst missed the musical activity at Leipzig he was persuaded by Johann Sebastian to remain by his father’s side. He eventually succeeded him in the organist post at Eisenach in 1749.

J.E. Bach’s 6 Sonatas for fortepiano & violin are among the few works the composer managed to have published during his lifetime: the first three in 1770 and the remainder in 1772. Although critics deemed them to be ‘too modern’, they were received so well by the public that a new edition was released in 1775.

Their title does not bear the designation ‘with violin accompaniment’ typical of the time but rather ‘sonatas for fortepiano and a violin’: the two instruments are afforded equal importance. In the final three sonatas, the structures become more complex and reveal inspiration from early proponents of classicism like C.P.E. Bach. Although Johann Ernst was known as an organist and harpsichordist, the writing in the fast movements and the lyricism of the slow sections, as well as his inclusion of dynamic markings, suggest that these works were designed for the newly invented fortepiano. All six sonatas are divided into three movements, alternating fast–slow–fast in line with Italian symphonic style.

Susanna Pisana plays a violin by Bernardo Calcagni (c.1740); Maurizio Paciariello plays a fortepiano built by Ugo Casiglia, after a model by Anton Walter (1798).

Tracklist:
01 - Sonata No. 1 in D Major_ I. Moderato
02 - Sonata No. 1 in D Major_ II. Andante
03 - Sonata No. 1 in D Major_ III. Allegro Assai
04 - Sonata No. 2 in F Major_ I. Allegro
05 - Sonata No. 2 in F Major_ II. Largo
06 - Sonata No. 2 in F Major_ III. Allegro
07 - Sonata No. 3 in G Major_ I. Allegro Poco
08 - Sonata No. 3 in G Major_ II. Andante
09 - Sonata No. 3 in G Major_ III. Allegro
10 - Sonata No. 4 in G Minor_ I. Allegro
11 - Sonata No. 4 in G Minor_ II. Arioso
12 - Sonata No. 4 in G Minor_ III. Tempo di Minuetto
13 - Sonata No. 5 in A Major_ I. Allegretto
14 - Sonata No. 5 in A Major_ II. Andantino
15 - Sonata No. 5 in A Major_ III. Allegro
16 - Sonata No. 6 in C Major_ I. Allegretto
17 - Sonata No. 6 in C Major_ II. Andante
18 - Sonata No. 6 in C Major_ III. Allegro


Thanks to the Original customer!