Coffee Concert: Rachel Podger plays Bach

J.S. Bach’s son CPE Bach was full of praise for the six sonatas for violin and harpsichord, calling them ‘amongst the finest works of my dearly beloved father. They still sound excellent and give me great pleasure although they are over 50 years old. There are several Adagios in them which even nowadays could not be set in a more singing style.’ Today's composers might read this comment with wry amusement, a music-loving society that was only interested in new works, a time when old music was no longer interesting, not up-to-date.

Now Bach, much of whose music is 300 years old, has become the measure that few composers can live up to. Here is music where every note is in exactly its rightful place, the absolute clarity of his music, especially in the hands of these two masters, is both invigorating and calming – a perfect start to this day.

Programme:
J.S Bach - Sonata in B minor for violin and harpsichord BWV1014
J.S Bach - Sonata in G minor for solo violin BWV1001
J.S Bach - Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor BWV903
J.S Bach - Sonata in E major for violin and harpsichord BWV1016