Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany, on March 21, 1685, and died in Leipzig, Germany, on July 28, 1750. Approximate performance time is ten minutes.

In the winter of 1718-19, Bach traveled from his residence in Cöthen to Berlin. There he purchased a superb new harpsichord, the creation of Michael Mietke, the instrument maker at the court of Berlin from 1697 until his death in 1719. 

It was during this journey that Bach probably first met the Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg, the youngest son of the “Great Elector,” Frederick William. The Margrave offered Bach a commission to compose a series of works. Two years later, Bach presented the Margrave with scores he entitled, “Six Concerts Avec plusieurs Instruments,” (“Six Concertos with Several Instruments”).

It appears that the Margrave never heard the magnificent works ultimately known as the Brandenburg Concertos. The Margrave employed a small ensemble of musicians, too few in numbers to encompass all the parts of the Six Concertos. Scholars believe that Bach did not initially compose these works for the Margrave. Rather, he wrote them for performance at various concerts by the excellent musicians in the court of Prince Leopold in Cöthen, for whom Bach served as Kappellmeister. Bach ultimately presented these independent works as a collection to fulfill the Margrave’s commission.

According to Bach’s son, Carl Philipp Emanuel, his father preferred to play the viola when leading an instrumental ensemble. It seems reasonable to assume that in performances of the Third Brandenburg Concerto, Bach played first viola and led the instrumental group that features strings in nine parts (three each of violins, violas, and cellos).

The Concerto No. 3 is in three movements. The vigorous sixteenth and eighth-note figure immediately presented by the violins forms the basis for the entire movement. The printed score of the second-movement Adagio consists of a single measure comprising two chords. In Bach’s time, a solo cadenza may have been performed here as prelude to the finale, (Allegro) is a lively gigue.