Flute Alone
  • Home
  • Rebecca Cochran
  • Appearances
  • Listen
  • Contact / Bookings
  • News
  • My Year of Bach

Ornamentations

10/5/2016

 
by Rebecca Cochran
 
The Flute Sonata in E Major (BWV 1035) was probably composed following one of Bach’s visits to the court of King Frederick the Great in Potsdam where Bach’s son, Carl Philipp Emanuel served as principal harpsichordist. Bach dedicated the sonata to Michael Gabriel Fredersdorf, the king’s personal secretary who, like the king himself, was an amateur flutist.
 
The opening movement of this sonata has unique characteristics. Marked Adagio ma non tanto, this may be the only instance where Bach wrote out very elaborate ornamentations, including tierces ornées, intermediate notes added to descending thirds.
 
As a flutist, when I first encountered this sonata in college, I recall being a bit surprised to see these fully notated ornamentations. I was (and still am) happy to have the occasional “road map” from Bach, giving me a better understanding of his intentions.

Enjoy this recording of the Adagio ma non tanto by flutist, Emmanuel Pahud.

Comments are closed.

    My Year of Bach.

    This is an experiment.
    I love Bach: listening to Bach; playing Bach (alone or with others); discovering Bach; learning from Bach; sharing Bach.

    ​I need Bach in my daily life.

    ​So, for 2016, I'm challenging myself to write a short daily post about Bach. Come along for the ride, if you're so inclined. Let's listen, share and learn together!

    Archives

    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All
    Agile
    Alto
    Arnold Steinhardt
    Bach In The Subways Day
    Badinerie
    Brandenburg Concertos
    Canon
    Cantatas
    Chaconne
    Design Thinking
    Escher
    Fugue
    Goldberg
    Jacques Loussier
    J.S. Bach Foundation
    Louis Moyse
    Moyse Trio
    Musical Offering
    Orchestral Suites
    Partita
    Play Bach Trio
    Third Stream
    Trio Sonata
    Well Tempered Clavier

    RSS Feed