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Sonata No. 1 in E-flat major, BWV 525

Composer: Bach; Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)

Instrumentation: 2 harpsichords or pianos

Author/editor/arranger: Ponsford

Publisher: Nimbus Music Publishing

Format: Sheet music

Product code: NMP1094

Tags: Harpsichord, Piano

£23.99

2 scores: 2 x 20pp SRA4 saddle stitched scores.

Arranger David Ponsford:

"My justification for arranging these works for two harpsichords derives from the preface to François Couperin’s L’apothéose de Lully (1725) in which he describes the manner in which he often played trio sonatas on two harpsichords:

'Trios . . . can be played on two harpsichords . . . I play them with my family and pupils with very happy success, namely, by playing the first treble part and the bass on one of the harpsichords; and the second treble part and the same bass on the other harpsichord tuned to the same pitch.'

"Furthermore, with two harpsichords whose compasses extend down to bottom FF, a fifth lower than the organ, opportunities are presented for playing the bass down an octave, at both 8-foot and 16-foot pitches, and both the harpsichordists’ right hands have the potential to fill in some continuo chords when opportunities arise. The result is a transformation of these famous trio sonatas, giving them a character that is neither better nor worse than interpretations on the organ, but very different and no less exciting."

The product images shown are for illustrative purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the product, e.g. an image of the full score may illustrate an instrumental part.