We offer a fresh and different – yet historically informed – perspective on the three sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord by J.S. Bach. With our rather uncommon instrumentation, we contribute with a neglected perspective to the framework of understanding of these sonatas in their historical context. In our approach, we have been considering the fact that violists in J. S. Bach’s time had very little sonata repertoire and for this reason possibly “borrowed” repertoire from the viol. The three sonatas for viola da gamba are particularly adapted to the viola da braccio with almost no changes in terms of octavations or arrangements.
– Marie Stockmarr Becker and Ilaria Macedonio
[from liner notes]
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