# Concerto for Two Violins (Bach)

The Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043, also known as the Double Violin Concerto, is a violin concerto of the Late Baroque era, which Johann Sebastian Bach composed around 1730. It is one of the composer's most successful works.

## History

Bach composed his Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043, around 1730, as part of a concert series he ran as the Director of the Collegium Musicum in Leipzig. The concerto was later arranged as a concerto for two harpsichords by Bach himself as BWV 1062.

## Structure

The concerto is characterized by a subtle yet expressive relationship between the violins throughout the work. In addition to the two soloists, the concerto is scored for strings (first violin, second violin and viola parts) and basso continuo. The musical structure of this piece uses fugal imitation and much counterpoint.
The concerto comprises three movements:
* Vivace in D minor, $^4$ $_4$
* Largo ma non tanto in F major, $^{12}$ $_8$
* Allegro in D minor, $^3$ $_4$
Performance time of the concerto ranges from less than 13 minutes to over 18 minutes.

## Reception

Around 1736–1737 Bach arranged the concerto for two harpsichords, transposed into C minor, BWV 1062.
1734–1738 Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach performed the concerto in Frankfurt an der Oder. After his father's death in 1750, Carl Philipp Emanuel inherited some of the original performance parts, likely doubles, of the concerto (surviving: parts for soloists and continuo), and likely also the composer's autograph score (lost). The extant original parts were later owned by Georg Poelchau [de], and were added to the Royal Library at Berlin (later converted to the Berlin State Library) in the 1840s. After the Second World War they were lost for several decades, eventually resurfacing in Poland.
Manuscript copies of (parts of) the concerto were produced around 1730–1740, in 1760, around 1760, around 1760–1789, and in the early 19th century. The concerto was first published in 1852, by Edition Peters, edited by Siegfried Dehn. In the first volume of his Bach biography (1873), Philipp Spitta describes the concerto as a product of the composer's Köthen period (1717–1723). After describing Bach's other extant violin concertos, those in E major (BWV 1042) and A minor (BWV 1041), he adds:
The Bach Gesellschaft published the concerto in 1874, edited by Wilhelm Rust. The Neue Bachgesellschaft reports around 25 known public performances of the concerto in the period from late 1904 to early 1907: most of these in Germany, but also performances in other European cities, including London, Madrid, Paris, Riga, St. Petersburg and Vienna, are mentioned. Outside of Europe, there was for instance the performance by Eugène Ysaÿe and Fritz Kreisler in New York in 1905. In London, Bach's Double became a repertoire piece, for instance regularly performed at the Proms.
After commenting that the "A minor and E major concertos are beginning to win a place in our concert halls," Albert Schweitzer writes, in the 1911 English-language edition of his book on Bach:
   The concerto for two violins, in D minor, is perhaps more widely known still. It can be played at home, as its orchestral part can be easily transcribed for the piano. Every amateur should know the wonderful peace of the largo ma non tanto in F major.
Johannes Umbreit's piano reduction of the orchestral score was published by Henle.
Research by Andreas Glöckner, published in 1982, dispelled prior assumptions that Bach would have composed the concerto in Köthen: Bach's extant autograph parts indicate that the concerto was composed in Leipzig, likely in 1730 or the earlier part of 1731. The New Bach Edition published the concerto in 1986, edited by Dietrich Kilian. According to Peter Wollny, writing in 1999, "The Concerto for two violins in D minor BWV 1043 is today one of the best-known and most frequently performed works of the composer, above all by virtue of its soulful, song-like middle movement."
According to Michael Miller, writing for Penguin's Complete Idiot's Guides, the concerto is one of Bach's eleven most notable compositions. In the Rough Guides, the Double Concerto is described as "one of Bach's very greatest works." The BBC website describes the concerto as "one of Bach's best loved instrumental works." According to the British Classic FM website, "the 'Bach Double' is one of the most famous of his works." The uDiscover Music website lists it among ten essential pieces by the composer.

## Recordings

Recordings of the concerto include:
Recordings of BWV 1043 :
| Rec. | Soloist I | Soloist II | Orchestra | Conductor | Release |
| 1915-01-04 | Kreisler | Zimbalist | string quartet (cello: Bourdon) | Rogers | Naxos (2001) |
| 1924-04-10 | Catterall | Bridge, J. S. | Hallé Orchestra | Harty | Columbia (1925) |
| ≤1926-02 | Arányi | Fachiri | [unidentified] | Chapple, S. | Vocalion (1926) |
| 1928 | Rosé, Ar. | Rosé, Al. | Rosé Quartet | | Biddulph (1928) |
| 1928-07-01 | Rosengren, A. | Witek [it] | Bayreuth orchestra members | Schmidt [scores] | Columbia (1929) |
| 1932-06-04 | Menuhin | Enescu | Paris Symphony Orchestra | Monteux | Vocalion (2010) |
| 1935-06-24 | Zimmermann [nl] | Hallmann, F. | Concertgebouw Orchestra | Mengelberg | History XXCM (2001) |
| 1937-08-30 | Szigeti | Flesch | [unidentified] | Goehr | Naxos (2009) |
| 1939 | Diener [de] | Hampe, C. | Collegium musicum | Diener | Electrola (≥1939) |
| c. 1945 | Bruun [d] | Koppel [da] | Danish Chamber Orchestra | Wöldike, M. | His Master's Voice (c. 1945) |
| 1945-04–05 | Busch | Magnes [d] | Busch Chamber Players | | CBS (1975) |
| 1945-11 | Menuhin | Oistrakh, D. | USSR State Symphony Orchestra | Orlov | Warner (2016) |
| 1946 | Menuhin | Oistrakh, D. | Moscow Chamber Orchestra | Barshai | Doremi (2000) |
| 1946-03-27 | Grumiaux | Pougnet | Philharmonia String Orchestra | Susskind | Columbia (1946) |
| 1946-10 | Heifetz | Heifetz | RCA Victor Chamber Orchestra | Waxman | Naxos (2008) |
| 1950-06 | Stern | Schneider | Prades Festival Orchestra | Casals | Cascavelle (2003) |
| 1952-01-06 | Krebbers | Olof [fr] | Concertgebouw Orchestra | Van Otterloo | Philips (1998) |
| 1953-09-15 | Menuhin | de Vito | Philharmonia Orchestra | Bernard | His Master's Voice (1954) |
| 1955 | Grehling [de] | Hendel, G. F. [de] | Saar Chamber Orchestra [de] | Ristenpart | Forgotten Records (2008) |
| 1955 | Gilels | Kogan, L. | Philharmonia Orchestra | Ackermann | Columbia (1956) |
| 1955-04 | Erlih | Merckel [it] | Pro Arte München | Redel | Forgotten Records (2009) |
| 1956 | Barchet [de] | Beh, W. | Pro Musica Stuttgart | Davisson | Vox (1956) |
| 1956-12-12 | Schneiderhan | Baumgartner | Lucerne Festival Strings | Baumgartner | DG (2005) |
| ≤1957 | Cron, M. | Hoffer, P. | Orchestre Isaïe Disenhaus | Disenhaus, I. | GEM (1957) |
| 1957-04-17 | Oistrakh, D. | Oistrakh, I. | Gewandhaus Orchestra | Konwitschny | Berlin Classics (2016) |
| ≤1958 | Michelucci | Ayo | I Musici | | Philips (1958) |
| 1958 | Menuhin | Oistrakh, D. | RTF Chamber Orchestra | Capdevielle | Medici.tv (video: 2001) |
| 1958-09-18 | Oistrakh, D. | Menuhin | Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra | Georgescu | Music & Arts (2000) |
| 1959 | Kogan, L. | Gilels | Moscow Chamber Orchestra | Barshai | ICA (2015) |
| 1959-07-08 | Menuhin | Ferras | Bath Festival Orchestra | Menuhin | EMI (2009) |
| ≤1960 | Lautenbacher | Vorholz, D. | Mainzer Kammerorchester | Kehr | Vox (1960) |
| 1960 | Oistrakh, D. | Oistrakh, I. | Moscow Chamber Orchestra | Barshai | Le Chant du Monde (1988) |
| 1960-06 | Carmirelli | Peinemann | Munich Philharmonic | Rieger | Past Daily (2015) |
| ≤1961 | Frasca-Colombier | Garnier, L. | Kuentz Chamber Orchestra | Kuentz | Pierre Verany (1994) |
| 1961-02 | Oistrakh, D. | Oistrakh, I. | Royal Philharmonic | Goossens | DG (1996) |
| 1961-02-18 | Oistrakh, D. | Oistrakh, I. | English Chamber Orchestra | Davis | ICA Classics (video: 2011) |
| 1961-05 | Heifetz | Friedman | London Symphony Orchestra | Sargent | Sony (2008) |
| 1963-01–02 | Büchner [fr] | Guntner [d] | Münchener Bach-Orchester | Richter | Archiv (1990) |
| 1963-04-30 | Peinemann | Zanettovich | Naples RAI chamber orch. [it] | Abbado | Fonit Cetra (1995) |
| 1964-03 | Milstein | Morini | [unnamed chamber orchestra] | Milstein | Universal (2016) |
| 1965-05 | Szeryng | Rybar | Musikkollegium Winterthur | Szeryng | Philips (2005) |
| 1965-09 | Suk | Jásek [cs] | Prague Symphony Orchestra | Smetáček | Supraphon (1989) |
| ≤1966 | Krebbers | Olof [fr] | Amsterdams Kamerorkest | Rieu sr. [nl] | Sony (1994) |
| 1966 | Ferras | Schwalbé | Berlin Philharmonic | Karajan | DG (2007) |
| 1967 | Varga, T. | Varga, G. | Varga Festival Chamber Orch. | Varga, T. | Claves (1993) |
| 1967-01 | Harnoncourt, A. | Pfeiffer, W. | Concentus Musicus Wien | Harnoncourt, N. | Telefunken (1967) |
| 1968 | Oistrakh, D. | Oistrakh, I. | Moscow Chamber Orchestra | Barshai | Melodia (2014) |
| 1970-09 | Grumiaux | Toyoda | New Philharmonia Orchestra | De Waart | Philips (1971) |
| ≤1971 | Milanova, S. | Badev, G. | Sofia Chamber Orchestra | Kazandjiev | Harmonia Mundi (1971) |
| 1971 | Kogan, L. | Kogan, P. | Moscow Radio Symph. Orch. | | Melodia (2014) |
| 1971-01 | Melkus | Rantos, S. | Capella Academica Wien | Melkus | DG (1971) |
| 1971-07 | Perlman | Zukerman | English Chamber Orchestra | Barenboim | EMI (2002) |
| 1971-07 | Francescatti | Pasquier | Lucerne Festival Strings | Baumgartner | DG (2006) |
| 1972-02-26 | Szeryng | García [es] | English Chamber Orchestra | Szeryng | Inta'glio (1992) |
| ≤1974 | Kalafusz, H. | Rösch, W. | Stuttgarter Kammerorchester | | MHS (1974) |
| 1974 | Krachmalnick, J. | Menuhin | National ASTA String Orchestra | Krachmalnick, S. | Custom Fidelity (1974) |
| 1975-5 | Magyar, T. | Goldberg | Netherlands Chamber Orchestra | Goldberg | Philips (1999) |
| 1975-09-20 | Kamu | Segerstam | Nationalmuseum orchestra | Génetay [sv] | BIS (1995) |
| 1976-05-18 | Menuhin | Stern | New York Philharmonic | Bernstein | Sony (1991) |
| 1976-06 | Szeryng | Hasson | St Martin in the Fields | Marriner | Philips (1982) |
| 1977–78 | Suske | Kröhner, G. | Gewandhaus Orchestra | Masur | Deutsche Schallplatten (1980) |
| 1978-11 | Grumiaux | Krebbers | Les Solistes Romands | Gérecz [fr] | Philips (1980) |
| ≤1979 | Kovács | Bálint, M. | Budapest Philharmonic | Erdélyi | Hungaroton (1979) |
| 1979-03 | Altenburger | Mayer-Schierning, E. | Deutsche Bachsolisten | Winschermann | RCA (1980) |
| 1979-03-03 | Menuhin | Ricci | Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra | Gamba | MMG (1980) |
| 1980-09-24 | Perlman | Stern | New York Philharmonic | Mehta | Sony (2004) |
| 1981 | Kuijken | Van Dael | La Petite Bande | Kuijken | Deutsche Harm. Mundi (1996) |
| 1981 | Schröder | Hirons, C. | Academy of Ancient Music | Hogwood | L'Oiseau-Lyre (1989) |
| 1981-11-12 | Menuhin | Li | London Symphony Orchestra | Menuhin | His Master's Voice (1982) |
| ≤1982 | Stern | Zukerman | St. Paul Chamber Orchestra | Zukerman | CBS (1987) |
| 1982 | Suk | Kosina, M. | Suk Chamber Orchestra | Vlach [cs] | Supraphon (1991) |
| 1982-11-17 | Mutter | Accardo | English Chamber Orchestra | Accardo | EMI (1983) |
| 1982-12 | Stern | Mintz | Israel Philharmonic Orchestra | Mehta | Helicon (2014) |
| ≤1983 | Kremer | Kremer | St Martin in the Fields | Kremer | Philips (2003) |
| 1983-3 | Standage | Wilcock , E. | The English Concert | Pinnock | Archiv (2001) |
| ≤1984 | Divry, T. | Velin, J.-C. | Ad artem de Lorraine | Redel | Forlane (1992) |
| 1984-01 | Shumsky | Tunnell, J. | Scottish Chamber Orchestra | | Nimbus (2001) |
| 1984-04-27 | Menuhin | Chen, L. | Polish Chamber Orchestra | Menuhin | Polskie Nagrania (1988) |
| 1984-12-20 | Tretiakov | Kagan | Moscow Virtuosi | Tretiakov | Yedang (2001) |
| ≤1985 | Laredo | Tunnell, J. | Scottish Chamber Orchestra | Laredo | Contour (1985) |
| 1985 | Huggett | Bury, A. | Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra | Koopman | Erato (1988) |
| 1985-07 | Accardo | Batjer, M. | Chamber Orchestra of Europe | Accardo | Philips (1986) |
| 1985-12 | Menuhin | Lysy | Camerata Lysy Gstaad [d] | Lysy | EMI (1987) |
| ≤1986 | Kostyál, K. | Rolla [es] | Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra | Rolla | Hungaroton (1986) |
| 1986-03 | Zukerman | Midori | St. Paul Chamber Orchestra | Zukerman | Philips (1986) |
| 1986-06 | Ritchie | Quan, L. | Helicon | Fuller | Reference [nl] (1993) |
| ≤1986-07 | Spivakov | Futer, A. | Moscow Virtuosi | Spivakov | Castle (1986) |
| ≤1987 | Sitkovetsky, D. | García [es] | English Chamber Orchestra | Sitkovetsky, D. | Novalis (1987) |
| 1987-12-02 | Eto | Gulli [it] | English Chamber Orchestra | Menuhin | Start Records (1988) |
| ≤1988 | Brezina, J. | Elias, F. | Camerata Romana | Duvier, E. | Pilz Media Group (1988) |
| 1988-07 | Spivakov | Futer, A. | Moscow Virtuosi | Spivakov | RCA Victor (1990) |
| 1988-11 | Bride, P. | Crenne, C. | Ensemble Instrumental de Fr. | | Pierre Verany (1994) |
| 1989-05 | Mackintosh | Wallfisch | The King's Consort | King | Hyperion (1990) |
| 1989-05–06 | Nishizaki | Jablokov, A. | Cappella Istropolitana | Dohnányi | Naxos (1990) |
| 1989-07 | Agostini | Perez, A. | I Musici | | Philips (1990) |
| 1990 | Rees | Murdoch, J. | Scottish Ensemble | Rees | Virgin (1991) |
| 1990-04-15 | Korsakova [de] | Korsakov [de] | Concertino of Moscow Phil. | | Russian Disc (1993) |
| 1990-09 | Zukerman | García [es] | English Chamber Orchestra | Zukerman | RCA Victor (2007) |
| 1991 | Spivakov | Futer, A. | Moscow Virtuosi | Spivakov | Cascade (Video: 2003) |
| 1992-09-01 | Menuhin | Lysy | Camerata Lysy Gstaad [d] | Menuhin | Dinemec (1997) |
| ≤1993 | Zweden | Verhey | Pardubice Chamber Orchestra | Vermeulen, J. | Dino (1993) |
| 1993 | Weiss, L. | Sand, M. | Arcangeli Baroque Strings | Sand, M. | Music & Arts (1995) |
| 1994 | Letzbor [fr] | Sepec, D. | Ars Antiqua Austria | Letzbor | Symphonia (2010) |
| 1994-09 | Colliard, G. | Lethiec, S. | Brixi Chamber Orchestra | Meister, C. | Doron Music (1995) |
| 1995-02 | Lamon | Melsted, L. | Tafelmusik | Lamon | Sony (1995) |
| 1995-02 | Hudeček | Sitkovetsky, D. | Virtuosi di Praga | Sitkovetsky, D. | Supraphon (1996) |
| 1995-05 | Standage | Comberti | Collegium Musicum 90 | Standage | Chandos (1996) |
| 1996 | Manze | Podger | Academy of Ancient Music | Manze | Harmonia Mundi (1997) |
| 1996 | Schmid [de] | Rosenkranz, H. | Cis Coll. Mozarteum Salzburg | Geise, J. | Arte Nova (2000) |
| 1996-12-26 | Stern | Shaham | Israel Philharmonic Orchestra | | BMG (video: 1997) |
| 1997-06 | Röhrig, A. | Bundies, U. | Musica Alta Ripa | | MD&G (1998) |
| 1998-12 | Pichlmeier, C. | Stewart, L. | Kölner Kammerorchester | Müller-Brühl | Naxos (1999) |
| ≤1999 | Lysy | Reuter | Camerata Lysy Gstaad [d] | Menuhin | Arcobaleno (2000) |
| 1999 | Poppen | Faust | Bach-Collegium Stuttgart | Rilling | Hänssler (1999) |
| 1999 | Terakado | Wakamatsu, N. | Bach Collegium Japan | Suzuki | BIS (2000) |
| ≤2000 | Polack, D. | Drzyzgula, K. | Lodz Chamber Orchestra | Szostak [pl] | Brilliant Classics (2000) |
| 2000-09 | St. John, L. | St. John, S. | New York Bach Ensemble | | Avie (2002) |
| 2000-01 | Kennedy | Stabrawa | Berlin Philharmonic | | EMI (2001) |
| 2000-10 | Hahn | Batjer, M. | Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra | Kahane | DG (2003) |
| 2001 | Hudson, B. | Kussmaul, W. | Stuttgarter Kammerorchester | Hudson, B. | Tacet [de] (2006) |
| 2001 | Kuusisto, J. | Kuusisto, P. | Tapiola Sinfonietta | | Ondine (2010) |
| 2003 | Ingólfsdóttir, U. | Ingólfsdóttir, R. | Reykjavík Chamber Orchestra | | Smekkleysa (2013) |
| 2003-06 | Valetti [de] | Beyer [de] | Café Zimmermann | Valetti | Alpha (2014) |
| 2005 | Suwanai | Steude, V. | Chamber Orchestra of Europe | Suwanai | Philips (2006) |
| 2005 | Tognetti | Rathbone | Australian Chamber Orchestra | Tognetti | ABC Classics (2009) |
| 2005-01-24 | Beznosiuk [fr] | Podger | Academy of Ancient Music | Beznosiuk | Wigmore Hall (2006) |
| 2005-02-26 | Großbauer | Buchler, W. | Vienna Symphony ensemble | Birnbaum, C. | Solo Musica (2013) |
| 2005-10–11 | Hope | Blankestijn [nl] | Chamber Orchestra of Europe | Bezuidenhout | Warner (2006) |
| 2005-12 | Szilvay, R. | Simonen [d] | Helsinki Strings | Szilvay, G. | Warner (2010) |
| 2006-01-19 | Rowland [nl] | Koch, M. | London Conchord Ensemble | | Champ Hill (2010) |
| 2006-06-25 | Bezzina | Corolla, L. | Ensemble baroque de Nice [fr] | Bezzina | Ligia Digital (2010) |
| 2008-06 | Fischer | Sitkovetsky, A. | St Martin in the Fields | Fischer | Decca (2009) |
| ≤2009 | Sato | Fukuhara, M. | Orchestra of St. Luke's | | MusicMasters (2009) |
| 2009-01 | Kristinsdóttir | Immer, L. | Solistenensemble Kaleidoskop | | ARS (2011) |
| 2009-10-17 | Oliveira | Gruesser | Arco Ensemble | Oliveira | Artek (2010) |
| ≤2010 | Morton, J. | Gould | Scottish Ensemble | Morton, J. | BBC (2010) |
| 2010-11-26 | Solozobova [de] | Zimansky | Camerata Musica Barocca | Solozobova | Bella Musica (2011) |
| 2011 | Meyers | Meyers | English Chamber Orchestra | Mercurio | eOne (2012) |
| 2011-03–04 | Spissky, P. | Eike [no] | Concerto Copenhagen | Mortensen | cpo (2015) |
| 2011-10 | Zimmermann | Gilbert | New York Philharmonic | Gilbert | NYPO (2012) |
| 2012 | Tölke, B. | Kanzian, M. | Ensemble Wien Klang | Schulz, C. | Preiser (2014) |
| 2012-04 | von der Goltz | Müllejans | Freiburger Barockorchester | | Harmonia Mundi (2013) |
| 2012-05 | Eschkenazy | Top [nl] | Concertgebouw Chamber Orch. | | Pentatone (2012) |
| 2012-10 | Podger | Čičić, B. | Brecon Baroque | Podger | Channel Classics (2013) |
| 2013-06-14 | Debretzeni [d] | Homburger [de] | English Baroque Soloists | Gardiner | BBC (2013) |
| 2013-03 | Koh | Laredo | Curtis 20/21 Ensemble | Parameswaran, V. | Cedille (2014) |
| 2013-07 | Hirasaki [d] | Carmignola | Concerto Köln | | Archiv (2014) |
| 2014-07 | Nemtanu, S. | Nemtanu, D. [fr] | Paris Chamber Orchestra | Goetzel [de] | Naïve (2015) |
| 2014-11 | Bernardini [nl] | Daniel, H. | Dunedin Consort | Butt | Linn (2016) |
| 2015-02 | Westers, J. | Webb, A. | Camerata RCO | | Gutman Records (2017) |
| 2015-08 | Mutter | Wildschut | Mutter's Virtuosi | Esfahani | DG (2015) |
| 2016-03–06 | Radulović | Milošević [sr] | Double Sens | | DG (2016) |
| 2016-06 | Korsakova [de] | Padovani [it] | North Czech Philharmonic | Olivieri-Munroe [d] | ARS (2019) |
| 2016-10-07 | Sato | Deans, E. | Netherlands Bach Society | Sato | Bachvereniging (video: 2017) |
| 2017–2018 | Faust | Forck, B. | Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin | Forck, B. | Harmonia Mundi (2019) |
| 2018-02 | Sato | Valova, Z. | Il Pomo d'Oro | | Erato (2018) |
| ≤2019 | Kalló [hu] | Paulik, L. | Capella Savaria | Kalló | Hungaroton (2019) |

## Use in Choreography

Neoclassical choreographer George Balanchine created the ballet Concerto Barocco to the Concerto in D minor for two violins, with two principal female dancers each following one of the instrumental soloists and the corps following the orchestra. Modern dance choreographer Paul Taylor used the second and third movements of Bach's Concerto in D minor (as well as the entire Violin Concerto in E Major) as the music for Esplanade, a dance "based on pedestrian movement".