BACH FOR SOLO VIOLIN
Benjamin Nabarro of Ensemble 360
Upper Chapel, Sheffield
Saturday 25 October 2025, 2.00pm / 7.00pm
Tickets:
£17
£10 UC, PIP & DLA
£5 Students & Under 35s
BACH Sonata No.3 in C (25’)
BACH Partita No.3 in E (20’)
Marvels of violin writing, Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas achieve the seemingly impossible: the solo violin is both melody and accompaniment, conjuring two, three or even four musical voices from a single instrument. Captivating to watch, the sonatas and partitas are equal parts spellbindingly expressive and technically demanding. This is music that demands virtuosic skill from its player. For this, the final in his series, Ensemble 360’s violinist Benjamin Nabarro will present Bach’s third Sonata and Partita. Inventive, profoundly imaginative, and demonstrating a mastery of the form unmatched in the 400 years since their composition, these are pieces that continue to dazzle and amaze.
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BACH Johann Sebastian, Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin
Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin were composed at Cöthen in 1720 (the date on Bach’s beautifully written fair copy of the set), at about the same time as his Cello Suites. The three Sonatas follow the pattern of the sonata da chiesa, with four movements, alternating slow and fast, while the three Partitas are suites of dances. Even though they were not published until 1802, Bach’s contemporaries recognized his superlative achievement in these pieces. Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach wrote that his father ‘understood to perfection the possibilities of all stringed instruments. This is evidenced by his solos for the violin and violoncello without bass. One of the greatest violinists once told me that he had seen nothing more perfect for learning to be a good violinist.’ Which violinist Bach may have had in mind when he first wrote the pieces remains unknown.
© Nigel Simeone