Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750), renowned for his masterful adaptations of compositions across instruments, demonstrated his artistry beyond the boundaries of instrumentation. His transcriptions sound as though they were the original versions. As a violinist with a background in piano performance and music theory, I started an ambitious project to transcribe some of Bach’s most beloved keyboard works – specifically, the Goldberg Variations and Toccata in E minor – for solo violin, while observing the conventions used in the Unaccompanied Sonatas and Partitas for violin. This project is the culmination of years of exploration in analysis, musicology, composition, and performance.
The initial steps to transcribing include playing the original pieces on the keyboard or violin and identifying the bass line. Then, I transposed the bass line to fit within the violin register, allowing me to play the outer voices on the violin. I would then add middle voices when possible while observing the harmony. Certain sections required re-composition to accommodate the idiomatic constraints of the violin, preserving the essence of Bach’s compositions as if they were intended for the violin.
The Aria from the Goldberg Variations plays remarkably well on the violin in its original key of G major, prompting the adaptations of eleven variations to showcase the violin’s polyphonic capabilities. While some variations are technically challenging, others are quite accessible.
The Toccata in E minor (BWV 914) was transposed to G minor for solo violin in leveraging the open strings. Since a toccata showcases compositional skills and keyboard technique, I incorporated violinistic virtuosity into sections of the toccata that highlight the performer’s keyboard techniques, particularly within the Adagio and Fuga movements.
This project pays homage to Bach’s legacy of musical innovation, extending the repertoire of unaccompanied violin music through integrating scholarly inquiry and creative reinterpretation.
Program:
J. S. Bach (1685 – 1750)
Goldberg Suite for solo violin
(after the Goldberg Variations BWV 988)
Aria
Variation 1
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 13
Variation 7
Variation 8
Variation 25
Variation 27
Variation 29
Variation 30
Aria Da Capo
Toccata in G Minor for solo violin (after the Toccata in E Minor BWV 914 for solo harpsichord)
_______
Un Poco Allegro
Adagio
Allegro – Fuga
Arranged for unaccompanied violin by Julia Taylor in 2023.
Violinist: Julia Taylor
Produced and engineered by Michael Schultz
Recorded at Hamilton Recital Hall, Denver, CO