Duration: 18 minutes

In 1718, Bach travelled to Berlin to purchase a new harpsichord for the Cöthen court. While there, he met the Margrave of Brandenburg, who commissioned a set of concertos from him. After a considerable delay, Bach sent off the scores of the six Brandenburg Concertos with the customary obsequious letter of dedication, in which he “most humbly begged his Highness not to judge their imperfection with the rigour of the fine and delicate taste which the whole world knows his Highness has for musical pieces,” but hoped that he would regard them as an expression of “profound respect and most humble obedience”.

The Sixth Concerto is peculiar in using only the lower strings. Bach had a particular interest in their deeper, somewhat mournful tone colour, as shown by his works for viola da gamba and cello. In this concerto, however, the startling effect quickly wears off as the ear becomes accustomed to the lack of violin sound, and we hear merely string players revelling in their virtuosity.

Program note by the late Dr. C.W. Helleiner