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J.S. Bach Brandenburg Concerto no. 3 BWV 1048

arranged for 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 violoncellos

by Mauk de Wildt (2016) __________________________________________________

- Score -

Introduction to this arrangement

The original score of this concerto, written for 3 violins, 3 violas, 3 violoncellos and continuo (including a

violone) shows many empty bars in the different parts as well as many unisono passages. That stimulated me

to investigate the possibility of a reduction of the 3+3+3+1 part scoring to a 2+2+2 part string sextet

arrangement without changing the work's character.

The original scoring asks for an ad hoc ensemble: no other works can be found in the IMSLP library for the same

instrumental combination. A string sextet ensemble is more common, for which there is already a rich

repertoire (more than 40 original works in the IMSLP library).

After first reassigning the melodic and polyphonic lines to the six parts and subsequently reassigning the

accompaniment notes it proved that only a limited number of notes were “left over” and had to be omitted.

Fortunately all these notes were typical fill-in notes, without melodic, polyphonic or rhythmical importance and

they could also be found in other parts, with the exemption of 2 or 3 places.

Double stopping is not common in Bachs orchestra and concerto parts, and so in this arrangement it is only

used in bars 108 to 113 in the 1st violin and 2st viola part (comparable with passages in Bachs Concerto for 2

violins, part 3).

The original dynamic markings (indicating only “piano” and “forte”), which are already shown in the autograph,

are not as usual meant to indicate a piano or forte character of an episode, but to control the balance between

melodic voices and unisono ripieno (accompanying) voices. So in this concerto in all passages with dynamic

markings some parts have to play forte and other parts at the same time piano. This is in my opinion what

musicians with good ears normally do automatically.

In this arrangement, however, the dynamic balance is significantly changed, e.g. because hardly any unisono

passages are left. That means that Bach’s original dynamic markings are of less importance or in some cases

even unnecessary , and I choose to ignore these markings, leaving the balancing to the players.

What is lost in the arrangement is mainly visually: lost is the beautiful symmetry of the original score, where

Bach treats the violins, violas and violoncellos as separate groups.

Mauk de Wildt, 2016

© Creative Commons license Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (this arrangement may be freely copied, performed

or adapted, provided that the name of the arranger is mentioned )

J.S. Bach Brandenburg Concerto no. 3 BWV 1048arranged for 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 violoncellos by Mauk de Wildt (2016)

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Violino I

Violino II

Viola I

Viola II

Violoncello II

Violoncello I

44

44

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44

44

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102

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1Violino I

Violino II

Viola I

Viola II

Violoncello I

Violoncello II

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128

128

128

128

Adagio

Allegro

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