composed by Bach, W. F.
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (1710–1784), the eldest son of Johann Sebastian Bach, was highly regarded for his talents in composition, keyboard playing, and violin performance. Johann Sebastian wrote “Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach” for him when he was ten years old, showing how dedicated he was to his son’s musical education. Wilhelm Friedemann was fortunate to grow up in an environment that nurtured his musical abilities, however, unfortunately, his works are not as widely known today.
Some of Wilhelm Friedemann’s surviving pieces, like his fantasias for keyboard and the Six Duets for Two Flutes, still find performance opportunities. Although his music may not have the same rigorous structure as his father’s, it has a unique freedom and charm.
One particularly interesting piece is 3 Duets for 2 Violas, Fk.60-62 (Fk stands for the Falck catalog number). This is a rare chamber music composition for two violas. The melodies are approachable, and the technical difficulty is not so high, making it enjoyable for many players. Among these, No.3 in G minor, Fk.62, is especially recommended. It has three movements: I. Tempo giusto, a short II. Amoroso, and III. Alla breve (Fuga).
This sheet music is arranged for Violin and Viola. Basically, the Violin part corresponds to Viola I, and the Viola part corresponds to Viola II in the original. However, for sections where the original Viola I exceeds the Violin’s range, adjustments were made to ensure a natural flow rather than simply raising the original notes by an octave. When you play it, it should feel like it was originally composed for Violin and Viola. The high range of the Violin makes the piece sound more vibrant and brilliant compared to the original.
