Sonatas for Flute & Harpsichord / Basso Continuo BWV 1030-1035; Partita for solo flute BWV 1013
General Discusssions - Part 3

Continue from Part 2

Chamber Music for Flute

William L. Hoffman wrote (November 23, 2019):
Since the mid-20th century when new Bach scholarship began, his transverse flute music has been at the center of controversy regarding its genesis, dating, chronology, and authenticity involving six sonatas, an unaccompanied suite, and related trio sonatas. Like many of the organ works, these flute pieces were found in various later copies instead of Bach autographs. These flute works focused on the sonata form instead of the dance-style partitas found in the chamber music for keyboard, cello, violin and lute. Established German scholars in particular dismissed certain flute works as lacking Bach's recognized style, thus their authenticity was doubted. Further scholarship involving flute performers and studies primarily in English reveals that Bach's music was subject to a great variety of influences and stylistic expression, especially the later galant style. Also, individual flute works were composed in extended stages over long periods of time, often with extensive prehistory as trio sonatas which sometimes were part of Bach's compositional studies with his students (http://www.bach-cantatas.com/NVD/BWV1036-1040.htm). "In arranging his earlier trio sonatas for solo instrument and keyboard, he laid the foundation for a genre that continues today," says Anssi Mattel.¹

The initial flute study in the Neue Bach Ausgabe (NBA), Chamber Music (Series VI), Works for Flute (Volume 3), accepted four of six sonatas (BWV 1030, 1032, 1034, and 1035) and Trio Sonata BWV 1039 while rejecting three works of doubtful authenticity (BWV 1031, 1033, and 1038) in the 1964 critical commentary by Hans-Peter Schmitz (https://www.baerenreiter.com/en/shop/product/details/BA5022_41/). They could be addressed in NBA Volume 4, "Chamber Works of Doubtful Authenticity" but, subsequently, this was supplanted by "Chamber Music 4: Three Sonatas for Viola da gamba and Harpsichord," BWV 1027-29, in 1989 by Hans Eppstein (https://www.baerenreiter.com/en/shop/product/details/BA5063_41/). In 2006, NBA Volume 5, Various Chamber Works, by Klaus Hofmann, reconsidered three sonatas (BWV 1030, 1033, and 1038), https://www.baerenreiter.com/en/shop/product/details/BA5295_41/. Further, the current NBA Revised Edition has in preparation "Chamber Music with Flute" (https://www.baerenreiter.com/en/catalogue/complete-editions/bach-johann-sebastian/nbarev/overview-of-volumes/).

Myths, Controversy

Beginning with scholar Friedrich Blume (1893-1975, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Blume), the concept of a rigorous Bach style was reinforced by the concept that Bach's instrumental music was composed only in Köthen between 1717 and 1723, especially the flute sonatas. Extensive studies now date the finished flute works to Bach's Leipzig period, 1730-41 when Bach was engaged in presenting instrumental music for the Leipzig Collegium musicum at Zimmermann's coffee house and gardens. The Köthen period was an incubator for many of these chamber music works. The two myths of traditional style and limited dating have been put asunder, particularly with the research into the viola da gamba sonatas which now are dated to the later Leipzig period between 1729 and 1742 as well as other findings by Gloria Rose,² Robert L. Marshall³ and Richard D. P. Jones.⁴ Rose says flute sonatas BWV 1031 and 1033 "confront us with a disagreement between a reputable original attribution [by Emanuel Bach] and a reputable modern analysis of musical style" by Schmitz.

Not compiled or collected as a group, Bach's flute music involves six sonatas for solo flute (BWV 1030-35), four of which have harpsichord accompaniment, and two with basso continuo, BWV 1034-35 (http://www.bach-cantatas.com/NVD/BWV1030-1035.htm). In addition is the Sonata in G major for two flutes and basso continuo, BWV 1039 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Flute_sonatas_by_Johann_Sebastian_Bach), and the Partita in A minor for solo flute, BWV 1013 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partita_in_A_minor_for_solo_flute_(Bach). Further, Bach in Leipzig composed various types of movements with transverse flute solo or obbligato in 78 vocal works, a list initially compiled by Charles Sanford Terry and researched by Ulrich Prinz in his 2005 monograph.⁵

Flute Music Perspectives

Following the publication of the NBA flute study VI/3 in 1964 with its omissions, noted flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal released in 1975 "Rampal Plays Bach: Complete Works for Solo Flute."⁶ These included eight sonatas (BWV 1020, 1030-35 and 1038), the Trio Sonata for Two Flutes and Continuo, BWV 1039; the unaccompanied Partita, BWV 1013; and the added Partita in C minor for Flute (or Lute) and continuo, BWV 997. The Sonata BWV 1020 "is now thought to be neither by Sebastian or Emanuel Bach," says Jones (Ibid.: 342). In the Rampal liner notes, Carl de Nys points out that the Trio Sonata for Flute, Violin, and Harpsichord in G, BWV 1038 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad_ty_W4dAg), c.1735, "presents some difficulties, as yet unresolved," since the bass line also is found in two sonatas for violin, one in G, BWV 1021 with continuo, and one in F, BWV 1022, with harpsichord, which Bach may have had students complete (these will be discussed soon in the violin sonatas, BWV BWV 1014-26). Sonata BWV 1038 is now attributed to Emanuel after Sebastian. The authenticity also is questioned concerning the Flute Sonata No. 2 in E-Flat, BWV 1031, c.1730-34, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flute_Sonata_in_E-flat_major,_BWV_1031, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad_ty_W4dAg).⁷

Earlier musicological challenges to the authenticity of Bach works on stylistic grounds were questioned in Hans Vogt's monograph in Bach's chamber music, beginning in 1981.⁸ "I am taking a position not only against musicology, but also against a current widespread historicism in performances" as "historically accurate." In the chamber music with multiple versions, Vogt examined passages where Bach made revisions, what was corrected, and what was retained in all versions (Ibid.: 34f). He examined nine chamber works in 24 versions and concluded that certain flute works could be considered authentic, BWV 1038, 1037, and 1031. However, the Sonata for Two Violins and continuo in C Major, BWV 1037, is now attributed to J. C. Goldberg Vogt provided no comment on Flute Sonata No. 4 in C major, BWV 1033 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flute_Sonata_in_C_major,_BWV_1033), c.1724, which Hofmann accepts in NBA KB VI/5 (2006). A summary of Bach's flute works by Jeanne Swack in 1999 ⁹ relied on the earlier findings in the NBA KB VI/3 of Schmitz.

Flute Sonatas

The Flute Sonatas, BWV 1030-1032 have stirred up the most controversy and the most discussion among Bach's instrumental chamber works, says David Ledbetter.¹⁰ Sonata BWV 1030 "has inspired a particularly complex set of [origin] theories," he says (Ibid.: 340) while the Sonata BWV 1031 authenticity is still debated. Sonata 1032 has "peculiarities": missing music and a still indeterminate relationship to BWV 1031. The Flute Sonata No. 3 in A Major, BWV 1032, c.1736, survives with half of its first movement missing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flute_Sonata_in_A_major,_BWV_1032, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLXG4FKQnNY). There have been numerous reconstructions.¹¹ The Flute Sonata No. 1 in B minor BWV 1030 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flute_Sonata_in_B_minor,_BWV_1030, https://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalSource_source_00001960), c.1736, "is without question the greatest of all Bach flute compositions," says Jones (Ibid.: 268), with its "expansive ritornello form," "extremely rich thematic material," and "contrapuntal elaboration." The Sonata No. 6 in E Major for Flute and Continuo, BWV 1035, is a late work in Galant style (c. 1741, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flute_Sonata_in_E_major,_BWV_1035, https://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalSource_source_00001689). The Flute Sonata No. 5 in E minor with continuo, BWV 1034 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flute_Sonata_in_E_minor,_BWV_1034, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpAZrQUvNy4), also has been in dispute between Eppstein and Marshall, observes Ledbetter (Ibid.: 343). Also composed for the Dresden Court in Galant style is the Trio Sonata from the Musical Offering, BWV 1079/3 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QtnHOamCfk, composed for Bach's later visit in 1747.¹²

The unaccompanied Flute Partita, BWV 1013

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partita_in_A_minor_for_solo_flute_(Bach), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQlRJO455JM) , is the only extant solo work for flute alone and is in the dance style of a Bach partita (sonata da camera) with the traditional movements of Allemande, Corrente, Sarabande, and Bourree. It may date to Köthen and possibly was composed originally for violin or keyboard, given its rapid passages in the first two movements without opportunities for breathing. Although there are concerted passages in several of the Bach flute works, there are no extant flute concertos. The nearest is Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchestral_suites_(Bach), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9ytFf2Vwbo). Possibly based on an earlier suite for violin and strings, it was composed in 1739 (autograph date), when Bach returned to the directorship of the Collegium musicum, says Jones (Ibid.: 249).

Flute/Orchestra Transcriptions

There are other transcriptions for flute and orchestra. The "Sonata No. 3 in G minor for Gamba," BWV 1029, may be an arrangement of a concerto (or trio sonata) for two flutes (or flute and oboe) about the same time as the Brandenburg Concertos (by 1722), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JcWlgH9pLI. The noted flutist James Galway has provided several transcriptions as flute concertos: (Flute Sonata) BWV 1032 in C Major (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICFHXSAhrPY&list=OLAK5uy_n30SMAjPCv6INLEe48NlqzyilGGICbw8E&index=8), the "(Triple) Concerto for Flute, Violin, Harpsichord, Strings and Continuo in A Minor," BWV 1044, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBd9wRJ68Po&list=OLAK5uy_n30SMAjPCv6INLEe48NlqzyilGGICbw8E&index=11; (Keyboard) Concerto No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1056 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzEy9vJlYWM), Concerto in E Minor, BWV 1059/35 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9qp8go0sBw), Trio Sonata No. 2 in G, BWV 1039 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GFt9D78YQs). Rampal recorded a transcription of the Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, BWV 1041 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpFz9p102g0). Also, the Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G Major, BWV 1049 is scored for two flutes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTmgYDDfOU4), and the Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, BWV 1050(a), is scored for flute, violin and harpsichord (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtAdBjZhfA4).

FOOTNOTES

¹Anssi Matilla, liner notes, J. S. Bach Flute Sonatas (Munich: Naxos, 1996), https://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=8.553754&catNum=553754&filetype=About%20this%20Recording&language=English.
² Gloria Rose, "Father and Son: Some Attributions to J. S. Bach by C.P. E. Bach," in Studies in Eighteenth Century Music: A Tribute to Karl Geiringer on His Seventieth Birthday, ed. H. C. Robbins Landon (London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd., 1070), https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2307/3394030.
³ Robert L. Marshall, Part III, Questions of Authenticity and Chronology, Chapter 12, "The Compositions for Solo Flute: A Reconsideration of Their Authenticity and Chronology," in The Music of Johann Sebastian Bach: The Sources, the Style, the Significance (New York: Schirmir Books, 1989: 202), https://unm-on-worldcat-org.libproxy.unm.edu/search?databaseList=2328%2C2007%2C1533%2C2006%2C1697%2C3413%2C2268%2C2201%2C2267%2C1672%2C3036%2C638%2C2264%2C2263%2C2262%2C1271%2C2261%2C2260%2C2281%2C143%2C2237%2C2259%2C1487%2C203%2C3201%2C1708&queryString=kw%3A%28Marshall+Bach+music#/oclc/18442039.
⁴ Richard D. P. Jones, "Sonatas in concerto style" and "The Musical Offering and other instrumental works," in The Creative Development of Johann Sebastian Bach, Volume II: 1717-1750, Music to Delight the Spirit (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013: 267, 364), https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/unm/detail.action?docID=3052726.
⁵ Charles Sanford Terry, Table IX, The Transverse (German) Flute (Querflöte), in Bach's Orchestra (London: Oxford University Press, 1932: 202ff), http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Topics/Flute.htm: list, "Flute in bach's music," http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Topics/Flute.htm, by Thomas Braatz. See also Ulrich Prinz, Johann Sebastian Bachs Instrumentarium : Originalquellen, Besetzung, Verwendung (Stuttgart: Bärenreiter, 2005), https://www.worldcat.org/title/johann-sebastian-bachs-instrumentarium-originalquellen-besetzung-verwendung/oclc/58421217, Table of Contents: http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/exlibris/aleph/a22_1/apache_media/9XTPEBDUSX7EGDBUIESDUN856EIFCH.pdf.
⁶ Rampal, Bach Complete Works for Solo Flute, https://www.ebay.com/i/183986184367?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=183986184367&targetid=595076273168&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9030455&poi=&campaignid=6470719571&mkgroupid=77538518797&rlsatarget=pla-595076273168&abcId=1140476&merchantid=114784819&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5dPuBRCrARIsAJL7oegHCmP0fb0uxkko3VHQMBPc5dE6Q54EU_TAMv_nelTGq0v4NGRZtnwaArOlEALw_wcB.
⁷ Flute Sonata No. 2 in E-Flat, BWV 1031, https://www.bach-digital.de/servlets/solr/select?q=%2BobjectType%3A%22work%22+%2Bcategory%3A%22BachDigital_class_00000006%5C%3A0001%22+%2Bcategory%3A%22BachDigital_class_00000005%5C%3A0001%22+%2Bmusicrepo_work01%3A%22BWV+1031%22&fl=id%2CreturnId%2CobjectType&sort=musicrepo_worksort01+asc&version=4.5&mask=search_form_work.xed&start=0&fl=id&rows=1&XSL.Style=browse&origrows=25.
⁸ Hans Vogt, Johann Sebastian Bach's Chamber Music: Background, Analyses, Individual Works, Eng. trans. Kenn Johnson ( Portland OR: Amadeus Press, 1988: 229f)); original diss., Johann Sebastian Bachs Kammermusik: Voraussetzungen, Analysen, Einzelwerke (Stuttgart: GmbH, 1981); overview, https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/1711970.
⁹ Jeanne Swack, "Flute Sonatas and Partita," in Oxford Composer Companions: J. S. Bach, ed. Malcolm Boyd (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999: 174f). Swack in "J. S. Bach's A major flute sonata BWV 1032" in Bach Studies 2, ed. Daniel R. Melamed (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995: 154-174), accepted BWV 1032 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flute_Sonata_in_A_major,_BWV_1032) while suggesting that BWV 1031 was modeled after noted flutist Johann Joachim Quantz (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flute_Sonata_in_E-flat_major,_BWV_1031).
¹⁰ David Ledbetter, "Instrumental Chamber and Ensemble Music, in The Routledge Research Companion to Johann Sebastian Bach (London: Routledge, 2017: 339ff).
¹¹ Flute Sonata No. 3 in A Major, BWV 1032, https://www.bach-digital.de/servlets/solr/select?q=%2BobjectType%3A%22work%22+%2Bcategory%3A%22BachDigital_class_00000006%5C%3A0001%22+%2Bcategory%3A%22BachDigital_class_00000005%5C%3A0001%22+%2Bmusicrepo_work01%3A%22BWV+1032%22&fl=id%2CreturnId%2CobjectType&sort=musicrepo_worksort01+asc&version=4.5&mask=search_form_work.xed&start=0&fl=id&rows=1&XSL.Style=browse&origrows=25. Reconstructions, Alfred Dürr, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLXG4FKQnNY, https://issuu.com/breitkopf/docs/eb_8583_issuu; David Schulenberg, http://4hlxx40786q1osp7b1b814j8co-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/david-schulenberg/files/2016/03/bwv1032_1_completion.pdf; Michael Marissen, https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/763863.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A6fb1651140d254ca385dab1cf83381cc); Michael Form, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkqGdDtoEcQ; Tempesta di Mare, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D9idWep724; Emmanuel Pahud, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D9idWep724; Jean-Pierre Rampal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncjfRZQ0qQI); Jonathan Brahms, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncjfRZQ0qQI); Hans Eppstein, http://web.gps.caltech.edu/~asimow/midi/BWV1032.html; Peter J. Billiam, https://www.pjb.com.au/mus/arr/a4/bwv1032_fl.pdf; and Rinaldo Alessandrini, https://www.deezer.com/us/track/525057212.
¹² Flute Trio Sonata, BWV 1079 No. 3, details (Jones: Ibid: 371f), https://books.google.com/books?id=0YwzAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA363&lpg=PA363&dq=Bach+trio+sonata+BWV+1079+No.+3+Richard+D.+P.+Jones&source=bl&ots=FQDYKqYlOq&sig=ACfU3U0y_4ZoMoTSk_ZPEXh1G-6NvWL5wA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi45Ji4kf_lAhXPpJ4KHXfoAOAQ6AEwC3oECAsQAQ#v=onepage&q=Bach%20trio%20sonata%20BWV%201079%20No.%203%20Richard%20D.%20P.%20Jones&f=false. Also, see Anthony Piraino "The Trio in the 'Musical Offering': Perceptions of Bach Late in Life," Academia, https://www.academia.edu/34880699/The_Trio_in_the_Musical_Offering_Perceptions_of_Bach_Late_in_Life?email_work_card=thumbnail.

William L. Hoffman wrote (November 26, 2019):
Chamber Music for Flute, Addendum

The most recent study of Bach's flute music outlines the research status of this music, as "the authenticity of these works is now on balance accepted, and they have been restored to the NBA [KB VI/5, https://www.baerenreiter.com/en/shop/product/details/BA5295_41/] after an earlier volume [VI/3] excluded them," says Nicholas Kenyon in his concise essay in Bach 333: J. S. Bach, the New Complete Edition (https://www.bach333.com).¹ Restored are Sonata in E-flat Major for Flute and Cembalo, BWV 1031; Sonata in C Major for Flute and Continuo, BWV 1033; and Trio Sonata in D Major for Flute, Violin, and Continuo in D Major, BWV 1038.

The three Sonatas for flute and continuo in sonata da chiesa genre, BWV 1030 in B Minor, BWV 1033 in C Major, and BWV 1034 in E minor are on the highest level, followed by the Sonata for Flute & Keyboard in A Major, BWV 1032, the Sonata in E Major for Flute and continuo, BWV 1035, and the Sonata in E-flat for Flute and Cembalo, BWV 1031 (http://bach-cantatas.com/NVD/BWV1030-1035.htm). Among the flute works as trio sonatas is the Trio Sonata from the Musical Offering, BWV 1079/3, the Sonata in G Major for 2 Flutes and Continuo, BWV 1039 (https://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalSource_source_00002625); and the Trio Sonata, BWV 1038, with Bach's autograph (https://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalSource_source_00003552). Of the Trio Sonatas, BWV 1036-1040 (http://bach-cantatas.com/NVD/BWV1036-1040.htm), two are by other composers. The Sonata for 2 Violins & Continuo in C major, BWV 1037, is by J. G. Goldberg (http://bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Goldberg-Johann-Gottlieb.htm, and the Trio Sonata for 2 Violins & Continuo in D Minor, BWV 1036, is attributed to C.P. E. Bach, Wq 145 / H 569 = BWV Anh. 186. In the BWV³ due in 2020, both wols are consigned to the BWV Anhang (Appendix) as D, "NOT by J. S. Bach; since demonstrated to be by other composers or variants/arrangements nut from Bach," in BACH 333: BWV Catalogue.

Flute Sonata No. 4 in C Major with Continuo, BWV 1033, is a hybrid suite-like work in French style with its authenticity still debated among Bach scholars. The sonata da chiesa is in slow-fast-slow-fast form (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC_TRLLd5NQ), the opening Andante and Allegro are a French overture, followed by an Adagio treated as an allemande and concluding with a three-part minuet. Interestingly, Hans Vogt in his study of Bach's chamber music, where he often accepted questionable works as Bach music, dismisses BWV 1033 while accepting BWV 1020, the Sonata for Violin/Flute in E-Flat Major, as a Bach work, now music of Emanuel.²

The restored Flute Sonata in E-flat Major, BWV 1031, recently has been recorded in a trio Sonata version for Flute, Violin and Continuo (https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/theraritanplayersrebecca). It is part of the American Bach Society's 2019 membership gift. The album also has a Quantz Flute Quartet, a Bach Trio Sonata, BWV 526, arranged for two keyboards, and an Emmanuel Bach Flute Quartet, Wq 94.

FOOTNOTES

¹ Nicholas Kenyon, "Partita for Solo Flute, [BWV 1013] | Flute Sonatas, BWV 1030-35; Doubtful and Spurious Sonatas," Bach 333: The Music (Berlin, Deutsche Grammaphon, 2018: 170f).
² Hans Vogt, Johann Sebastian Bach's Chamber Music: Background, Analyses, Individual Works, Eng. trans. Kenn Johnson ( Portland OR: Amadeus Press, 1988: 26)); original diss., Johann Sebastian Bachs Kammermusik: Voraussetzungen, Analysen, Einzelwerke (Stuttgart: GmbH, 1981); overview, https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/1711970.