BACH: Trio Sonata No. 2 BWV 526 for Brass Trio
by Johann Sebastian Bach
Brass Trio - Digital Sheet Music

Trio Sonata No. 2 BWV 526, originally for organ, arranged for Brass Trio: 2 Trumpets in C, 1 Bass Trombone

Duration: ca. 10:00, Score: 35 pages

 In three movements.

I. Vivace

II. Largo

III. Allegro

Bach's Trio Sonata No. 2 in C minor, BWV 526, was composed around 1727-1730 during his time in Leipzig. It belongs to a set of six trio sonatas for organ (BWV 525-530) that Bach pioneered, establishing a new genre of trio sonata written for a single instrument.  The trio sonata was a popular Baroque chamber music genre, typically written for two melody instruments and basso continuo (a bass line with chords filled in by a keyboard). Bach adapted the trio sonata format for a single instrument - the organ - with the three independent melodic lines played by the two hands and pedals. This was an innovative expansion of the trio sonata concept, allowing the organ to function like a "one-man band" playing all the roles of a chamber ensemble. Bach likely transcribed or arranged BWV 526 from earlier lost trio sonatas he had written for other instruments. The sonatas were possibly intended as study works for Bach's eldest son, Wilhelm Friedemann, who was being trained as an organist. They incorporate some Galant style touches inspired by contemporary operas, perhaps to appeal to Friedemann's tastes. The sonatas highly influenced later composers like Mendelssohn and represented a pinnacle of difficulty in the organ repertoire. So, in summary, BWV 526 exemplified Bach's innovative approach to adapting the popular trio sonata genre to the capabilities of a single keyboard instrument, the organ, while training his son in the utmost contrapuntal mastery.