Bach Sonatas & Partitas
for Solo Violin

mong all the music written for the violin, Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for the solo violin stand as one of the most revered magnum opuses. The monumental work comprises of three Sonatas and three Partitas. The Sonatas are compositions containing several movements arranged in fast-fugue-slow-fast. The Partitas are collections of dance-based movements. They are works of miracle that explores the wide spectrum of emotions poured from a single instrument. The music possesses this sacred and wonderful mysterious quality to it that often invoke the divine.

The main body of the violin is formed by countless delicate calligraphic lines that flow and swirl around each other. It represents musical harmony where there are tensions and releases.

The design incorporates elements from the violin's construction like the chin rest, bridge, f-hole, tail-piece and fingerboard. The ampersand also forms the bridge and the G-clef (the staff in which all violin music is written in). They are deliberately concealed among the flourishes, whereas the scroll and bow are realistically illustrated in copper-engraving style.

The title "Sonatas & Partitas" are presented in a rather ambiguous manner. Some of the letters may not be as obvious to read. The letters also interact with the flourishes and sometimes they obscures some of the shapes. Cutting off and sometimes elongate them.

Framing above and below the calligraphic violin are the Corona Ironworks. They are ornamental designs that crown the whole piece. The official title given by Bach is worked into the ironwork. On the top Corona, it reads "Sei Solo a Violino Senza Basso Accompagnato." (Six pieces for solo violin without bass accompaniment). On the bottom Corona, it reads "Libro Primo - Johann Sebastian Bach 1720 Weimar". Libro Primo means First Book since Bach also composed a second set of solo music for the cello. The year 1720 indicates the year when the work was completed. Bach began composing these works while in Weimar.

The classical cartouche design and marble moulding that adorns the Corona Ironwork represents each music. Each of them bears the title of the piece and the key in which they are written. Together they form into this exuberant piece of design.

Dedicated to James Ehnes. For his immaculate interpretation of this masterpiece. I was very grateful when he agreed to meet me and personally signed this artwork for my own keeping in Sydney, 2016. It will be cherished forever. He, of course, has one of the copy along with the monogram I made for him and his wife. We had a lively chat about Bach, concertos, and the life of a concert artist in the concert hall café. James plays the 1715 ex-'Marsick' Stradivarius.