J. S. Bach for Violin & Harpsichord - Sebastian Changes His Mind

Pre-Season Bonus Concert on Saturday Evening!

J. S. Bach for Violin & Harpsichord, “Sebastian Changes His Mind” is a special Saturday evening concert featuring Bach Parley Music Director Valerie Arsenault on baroque violin and guest artist Christine Kwon on harpsichord with a wine and cheese reception to follow. Kwon studies and performs in The Hague in the Netherlands and she is spending this summer here in Tallahassee. 

Since practically all of the male members of the Bach family have the first name Johann it’s likely that J. S. Bach went by his second name, Sebastian. The final piece on the program will be the Sonata No. 6 in G major, BWV 1019, but Sebastian changed his mind and modified the music creating several different versions of this sonata.

“We will explore these alternative versions by playing three extra movements,” explains Arsenault. “It is like we are going to have ‘parallel universe’ moments to let the audience share in Bach’s diverse expressions in this piece.”

“It is an absolute joy to play with Christina,” says Arsenault, “and to learn from each other as we rehearse together. We are excited to share some of our favorite Bach sonatas which are truly heartfelt conversations between the violin and harpsichord.”

Arsenault and Kwon will begin with a continuo sonata in G major, BWV 1021. This is an endearing piece which is small scale and rather short. Since it is for harpsichord continuo, Kwon will be ‘realizing’ figured bass by improvising with her right hand over the chord changes from the bassline in her left hand. The other two sonatas on the program are for violin and obbligato harpsichord, which means that Bach himself wrote out exactly what he wanted the harpsichordist to play, with only a few continuo spots interspersed through the scores.

In his Sonata No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1014, Bach emphasizes the impassioned feeling often associated with the key of B minor, but then the third movement is a tender, gentle Andante in D major which creates a refuge of peace among the often tragic and sometimes heartbreaking B minor.

All donations benefit the Bach Parley String Academy Student Scholarship Fund – donations may be made at BachParley.org/StringAcademy or accepted at the door. A $10-20 suggested donation is suggested.

The Tallahassee Bach Parley is the umbrella organization for a non-profit music school, the Bach Parley String Academy. Founded in 2015, the String Academy offers violin, viola and cello lessons – and even offers ukulele classes.

For additional information about the Tallahassee Bach Parley, including the Bach Parley String Academy music school, visit www.bachparley.org.

Free childcare available. Join us for a spectacular evening!