The violin was one of J. S. Bach’s favorite instruments and inspired his most lyrical compositions. We know he was greatly influenced by the Italian masters whose work he discovered during his Weimar years. He was influenced by the power of Frescobaldi, the melodic flexibility of Corelli, and by the sunny aspects of Vivaldi.
Yet Bach developed his own wonderful artistry in writing music for the violin and “playing” with its sound palette.
Bach’s deep understanding of the instrument clearly enabled him to exploit its full potential and to write as well as to perform music of the utmost virtuosity.
Here are Renaud Capucon and David Fray in the second movement of Bach’s Sonata #5:
