DCXXIX. BACH, J.S. Brandenburg Concerto #3 in G Major, BWV 1048

DCXXIX. BACH, J.S. (1685-1750)

Brandenburg Concerto #3 in G Major, BWV 1048 (1721)
1. [no tempo indication]
2. Adagio
3. Allegro
Netherlands Bach Society
(11:00)

The shortest of the six, but in no way the least.

First movement

In ritornello form, and reused by Bach in the sinfonia of the cantata Ich liebe den Höchsten von ganzem Gemüte, BWV 174.

After a unison exclamation, Bach sets up this call-and-response going from high to low:

Pedal-point magic:

The motif now rises from bottom to top.

Second movement

Just two chords. In this recording, Shunske Sato plays a little figuration to the B Major chord, which drops not to the expected E Major, but G Major:

Third movement

And a joyful, canonic gigue-like 12/8: