The harpsichord concertos, BWV 1052-1065, are concertos
for harpsichord, strings and continuo by Johann
Sebastian Bach. Of these, there are seven complete
concertos for a single harpsichord, (BWV 1052-1058),
three concertos for 2 harpsichords (BWV 1060-1062), two
concertos for 3 harpsichords (BWV 1063-1064), and one
concerto for 4 harpsichords, (BWV 1065).
All of Bach's harpsichord concertos, with the exception
of the Brandenburg concerto and BWV 1061 which
was composed for har...(+)
The harpsichord concertos, BWV 1052-1065, are concertos
for harpsichord, strings and continuo by Johann
Sebastian Bach. Of these, there are seven complete
concertos for a single harpsichord, (BWV 1052-1058),
three concertos for 2 harpsichords (BWV 1060-1062), two
concertos for 3 harpsichords (BWV 1063-1064), and one
concerto for 4 harpsichords, (BWV 1065).
All of Bach's harpsichord concertos, with the exception
of the Brandenburg concerto and BWV 1061 which
was composed for harpsichords from the very beginning
(though, without accompaniment) are thought to be
arrangements made from earlier concertos for melodic
instruments probably written in Köthen. In many cases,
only the harpsichord version has survived.
Bach made a number of transcriptions from Antonio
Vivaldi's concertos, especially from his op.3 set,
entitled L'estro Armonico; he adapted them for solo
harpsichord and solo organ, and for the concerto for 4
violins in B minor, op.3 no.10, RV 580, he decided upon
the unique solution of using four harpsichords and
orchestra. This is thus the only harpsichord concerto
by Bach which was not an adaptation of his own
material. The middle movement has the four harpsichords
playing differently-articulated arpeggios in a very
unusual tonal blend, while Bach provided some
additional virtuosity and tension in the other
movements.
Although this Concerto in C Minor was originally
written for 4 Harpsichords and Orchestra, I created
this arrangement for four (4) Concert (Pedal) Harps