JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH 1685-1750

Concerto in D minor for Violin and Oboe BWV 1060

1. Allegro

2. Adagio

3. Allegro

In 1729 Bach took charge of the Collegium Musicum in Leipzig, originally founded by Telemann, where there was a need to compose music on a regular basis for the weekly instrumental recitals.

Among the pupils at the time of the work's composition (the exact date is uncertain), there must have been talented harpsichord players, for, although originally written for oboe and violin as in this evening's performance, the work in fact only survives in a version for two harpsichords.

The original violin and oboe lines can, however, be traced from the right hand keyboard parts, and this version is commonly held to be the more attractive, since the two solo instruments not only offer a contrast in tone, but are also capable of maintaining a true cantabile in the beautiful slow movement.