Johann Sebastian Bach

3 Sonatas and 3 Partitas for Solo Violin

Dr. Lawrence Golan's edition of Bach's masterpieces for solo violin combines the authenticity and accuracy of a Scholarly Urtext Edition with the practicality and helpfulness of a Performing Edition. A facsimile of Bach's autograph manuscript was used in the preparation of this edition and the composer's intentions have been preserved to the last detail. Of particular note is the fact that all stems have been beamed together as they appear in the autograph manuscript. This is of great importance when making interpretive decisions regarding dotted rhythms. Helpful fingering and bowing suggestions are provided by the editor, but are clearly distinguished from Bach's original notation, allowing the performer the freedom to accept or reject any given suggestion.

The volume comes complete with Dr. Golan's essay 'Performing Bach: Dotted Rhythms and Trills in the Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, ' which also includes scholarly discussions of vibrato, fingerings, bowing styles, and ritardandos in Baroque music. The inclusion of this comprehensive study of Baroque performance practices makes this edition a must for any violinist interested in performing the Bach Sonatas and Partitas in an historically informed manner.