Johann Sebastian Bach

Sonata No. 1 in G major, BWV 1027, Sonata No.2 in D major, BWV 1028, and Sonata No.3 in G minor, BWV 1029, respectively, are three sonatas that Johann Sebastian Bach wrote for viola da gamba and harpsichord.

There is no certainty as to when Bach wrote his three viola da gamba sonatas. Various musicologists suggest that they were composed as early as 1720, during Bach's Köthen period, at the court of Prince Leopold, where the Court Capelle included the well-known gamba player Christian Ferdinand Abel. Other evidence suggests that the sonatas were composed in Leipzig around 1740, where Bach was cantor at the St. Thomas Church, as well as director of the Collegium Musicum from 1723 onwards.

For this, the Sonata in G Major, BWV 1027, musicologists generally agree that Bach's first viola da gamba sonata is based on his Sonata in G major for Two Flutes and Basso Continuo, BWV 1039. The first movement begins in a style similar to the other two sonatas: the gamba introduces the theme which is then carried in the harpsichord. The weaving pattern continues. The second movement, however, begins with the harpsichord stating the theme, joined by the gamba in the dominant key. The last two movements continue in a similar way as well. The sublime, poetic andante is built over slow arpeggiations built over an eighth note base line. The last movement is a bright and lively fugue.

Source: Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_da_Gamba_Sonatas_(Bach)).

Although originally written for viola da gamba and harpsichord, I created this arrangement for String trio (Violin, Viola & Cello).