The Adagio (Movement 2) from Bach's Brandenburg
Concerto No. 3 in G Major (BWV 1048) is interesting not
that it is the slow inner movement between the two fast
outer movements of a typical Baroque concerto form but
that it barely exists. All Bach wrote for the middle
movement of this concerto in G major was a one-measure
cadence iv6 to V in E minor (or a Phrygian cadence on
B, if you like). Since the revival of Bach's music and
the Brandenburg Concertos in particular, this movement
has caused ev...(+)
The Adagio (Movement 2) from Bach's Brandenburg
Concerto No. 3 in G Major (BWV 1048) is interesting not
that it is the slow inner movement between the two fast
outer movements of a typical Baroque concerto form but
that it barely exists. All Bach wrote for the middle
movement of this concerto in G major was a one-measure
cadence iv6 to V in E minor (or a Phrygian cadence on
B, if you like). Since the revival of Bach's music and
the Brandenburg Concertos in particular, this movement
has caused every orchestra and conductor massive
headaches! What do you do? Just play the two-chord
cadence as written? A few seconds of sustained chords
in between two fast movements several minutes long
each? That is obviously wrong, though it is what is
written. What about a brief cadenza for the first
violin? That is the option chosen by Tafelmusik and
many others. Some have taken a slow movement from a
different piece by Bach ending with the same cadence
and simply inserted it here.
Although originally created for Baroque string chamber
orchestra, I created this arrangement of the Adagio
from the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major (BWV
1048 Mvt. 2) for Viola & Piano.
SHEET MUSIC