Why Bach’s most famous double concerto was once wrongly attributed to his earlier years
In short: Johann Sebastian Bach’s celebrated D minor masterpiece for two violins is a staple of the classical repertoire. While long assumed to be a product of his time in Köthen, modern research reveals it was actually composed in Leipzig around 1730, showcasing the composer’s mastery of fugal imitation and complex counterpoint.
The Double Violin Concerto, cataloged as BWV 1043, emerged from the concert series Bach directed for the Collegium Musicum in Leipzig. For decades, scholars like Philipp Spitta argued the work originated during the composer's earlier Köthen period, spanning 1717 to 1723. However, a 1982 study by Andreas Glöckner overturned this consensus, using surviving autograph parts to confirm a later origin of 1730 or early 1731.
The composition is defined by the intricate, expressive interplay between the two soloists, supported by a string ensemble and basso continuo. Its technical depth relies on fugal imitation and counterpoint, creating a structure that has captivated audiences for centuries. Bach himself clearly valued the work, later transposing it into C minor as a concerto for two harpsichords, BWV 1062, around 1736–1737.
The survival of the original parts is a story of its own. Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach inherited the performance materials after his father's death in 1750, though the autograph score was lost. These parts eventually reached the Royal Library in Berlin in the 1840s, vanished after the Second World War, and were only rediscovered in Poland decades later. Today, the piece remains a cultural touchstone, inspiring works like George Balanchine’s ballet Concerto Barocco and Paul Taylor’s dance piece Esplanade.
Performances of the work vary significantly in duration, lasting anywhere from under 13 minutes to over 18 minutes. Its enduring popularity is reflected in its frequent inclusion in essential Bach collections and its status as a repertoire piece in major concert halls worldwide. From its humble beginnings in a Leipzig concert series to its modern status as a beloved instrumental classic, the concerto continues to be celebrated for its soulful, song-like middle movement.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Concerto for Two Violins (Bach)
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