Title: The solo violin works of Bach and Telemann: a comparison of formal and stylistic models and fugal writing for solo violin
Abstract: Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Philipp Telemann both composed sets of works for solo violin. Bach’s Six Solos for Violin without Accompanying Bass, BWV 1001–1006 (commonly referred to as his Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin) and Telemann’s Twelve Fantasies for Violin without Bass, TWV 40:14–25 were written only fifteen years apart, yet vary greatly in their scope and the challenges that they present the performer. This study aims to guide the modern performer towards a deeper technical, stylistic and structural understanding of the works, as well as providing practical performance suggestions for some of the technical challenges presented by the music. Outlines of how each composer achieved a balance of unity and variety in the structure and style of their works are provided, while particular attention is given to the fugal movements in each set. The idiomatic violin techniques employed by each composer to achieve variety, polyphony and harmonic complexity in their fugues for solo violin are examined.