Concerto for Flute, Violin, and Keyboard, BWV 1044

• Bach’s “Triple” Concerto in A minor for flute, violin, keyboard, BWV 1044, was composed some time between 1729-41.¹
• Bach composed this work for his Collegium Musicum.²
• It is likely that Bach was the original keyboard soloist for this work. ³
• Bach adapted the second movement from his Trio Sonata in D minor no. 3 for organ (mvt 2, adagio e dolce). That means that Bach transformed this from a 3-part organ piece (two melody lines and a bass line) to a quartet with a new independent 4th part (three melody lines and a bass line).⁴

“Thanks to his greatness in counterpoint, he accompanied trios on more than one occasion on the spur of the moment and, being in a good humor and knowing the composer would not take it amiss…converted them into complete quartets, astounding the writer of the trios.”

C.P.E. Bach, on J.S. Bach’s ability to turn trios into quartets as a stunt.⁵

1. Christoph Wolff and Walter Emery, “Bach, Johann Sebastian,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed July 15, 2019, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-6002278195.
2. George B. Stauffer, liner notes to Murray Perahia Plays Bach, Murray Perahia, Jaime Martin, flute, Kenneth Sillito, violin, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Sony 87326, CD, 2003.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.