The 2. Brandenburg Concerto (BWV 1047)

The Brandenburg Concertos were dedicated to the Margrave of Brandenburg in 1721.  The individual dates for the Concerts cannot be precisely determined. No 2. was maybe composed in 1717 or 1718. The trumpet part of No. 2 was probably written for the court trumpeter in Cothen, Johann Ludwig Schreiber, and not for the more commonly thought Gottfried Reiche .  The violin part was probably for the concert master in Cothen, Joseph Spiess.

The 6 Brandenburg concertos contrast a small group of solo players (different in each of the six) with the larger body of players who have no solo functions.

All the concertos are in three movements as in the Italian style (of Torelli), except the first and third.

The second concerto is scored for two groups plus continuo

Movements:
1. Allegro
2. Andante
3. Allegro assai


Instrumentation:

Essay:
The English recorder player, conductor and teacher, Philip Pickett, has written an essay called:

J.S. Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos A New Interpretation

Here is part of what he says about Brandenburg Concerto II:

The high trumpet part might suggest that Bach wrote this concerto for a visit to Weissenfels, perhaps in 1713 - a visit which coincided with preparations for the birthday of Duke Christian on 23rd February. The great trumpet virtuoso Johann Altenburg led the corps of trumpeters at the Weissenfels court, and was renowned for his playing in the high clarino register. There is evidence that at least one of Bach's other works was performed at the 1713 celebrations - the so-called Hunting Cantata BWV 208.

More here

Recordings: Sound samples: MIDI-files (trumpet part):
(click right mouse-butten, choose Save Link As)
1. Allegro
2. Andante (tacet)
3. Allegro assai
NoteWorthy Composer NWC-files,  (trumpet part):
(click right mouse-butten, choose Save Link As)
1. Allegro
2. Andante (tacet)
3. Allegro assai
[back]