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Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Concerto No. 1 for Harpsichord, BWV 1052, in D Minor
Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685 in Eisenach and died in 1750 in Leipzig. While Bach was employed in Cöthen, he wrote all six Brandenburg Concerti (BWV 1046-1051) and in the year 1721 dedicated these compositions to his patron, the Margrave of Brandenburg.
The Concerto No. 1 for Harpsichord, BWV 1052, in D Minor followed the Brandenburg Concerti. Even though Bach often wrote his own arrangements, he was intrigued by the musical techniques found in the Italian and German concerto form. Bach often extracted a tune from a composition from one of his peers, then he would adapt it to a concerto for another musical instrument. Many of the keyboard concerti he transcribed were borrowed from Vivaldi; in order to make them more interesting, Bach added counterpoint and colorful instrumentation.
The driving rhythms, a focus on strong triadic themes, and energetic ritornellos interspersed between solo statements are all techniques found in BWV 1052. Bach employs the fast, slow, fast concerto movement form. The first and third movements employ the basic characteristics of the Baroque concerto form. In the second movement the soloist is given liberty to improvise ornamentation. In the Adagio, the orchestra plays a simple triad and then the line falls away in resolution. Although BWV 1052 is performed frequently, the listener can continue to be energized by its flawless musical craftsmanship, compelling rhythmic drive and brilliance.
-- program notes by Laurien Jones