Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
This performance of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 appeared in a recent live streamed concert. Instead of the typical concerto grosso setup of a solo group within the orchestra, this piece treats all members of the ensemble as soloists, with independent lines for three violins, three violas and three cellos supported by the basso continuo accompaniment. The equitable distribution of the material is especially clear in the first movement, in which the primary motive — a three-note figure that drops to the lower neighbor note and then returns to the starting pitch — cascades through the different voices.
The central Adagio movement consists simply of two linking chords, sometimes elaborated by an improvised cadenza. The concerto closes with a barreling Allegro finale, its tempo and character matching the reeling gigues that conclude most of Bach’s dance suites.
Enjoy the full performance anytime for free at content.thespco.org/music/concert-library/concert/bach-cuong-frank-and-mozart
This performance of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 appeared in a recent live streamed concert. Instead of the typical concerto grosso setup of a solo group within the orchestra, this piece treats all members of the ensemble as soloists, with independent lines for three violins, three violas and three cellos supported by the basso continuo accompaniment. The equitable distribution of the material is especially clear in the first movement, in which the primary motive — a three-note figure that drops to the lower neighbor note and then returns to the starting pitch — cascades through the different voices.
The central Adagio movement consists simply of two linking chords, sometimes elaborated by an improvised cadenza. The concerto closes with a barreling Allegro finale, its tempo and character matching the reeling gigues that conclude most of Bach’s dance suites.
Enjoy the full performance anytime for free at content.thespco.org/music/concert-library/concert/bach-cuong-frank-and-mozart
