Arrangements as a creative tool towards the performance of J. S. Bach’s Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin BWV 1001–1006

Wong, M. H. Y. (2023) Arrangements as a creative tool towards the performance of J. S. Bach’s Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin BWV 1001–1006. Doctoral thesis, Royal College of Music.

Abstract

A performer’s musical interpretation reflects that performer’s creative discourse and praxis, which is often shaped by the performer’s exposure to concerts, recordings and pedagogical experiences. As a performance practice project, this dissertation proposes a way to expand a performer’s creative sources beyond these means by using arrangements as a creative tool. It models a process of score study that leads a performer to musical interpretations that are new to that performer. The author is a violinist and focuses the study on J. S. Bach’s Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, BWV 1001–1006 (hereafter the Solos), dated 1720. Three case studies demonstrate the use of arrangements as a creative tool, studying arrangements for harpsichord, organ, lute, piano and piano accompaniment drawn from the entire time span from Bach’s time to today. Each case study comprises detailed score studies of various passages in the Solos, each leading to musical interpretations that are new to the author. This dissertation’s contribution to knowledge is the process rather than the author’s particular outcomes. As every violinist is different, every violinist will find different aspects of these arrangements relevant and interesting, resulting in different interpretive findings. This is not only recognised but celebrated, as it makes the world of musical possibilities all the richer.

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